Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-19

A. W ashinSion, Dec. lS.-Ihe govern hnehts antitrust action against the Ereat meat packers. begun at Presi ,elent Wilson's direction last summer as part of the fight on utc high cost of living. has been compromised under an agreement by which the packers will confine themselves hereafter to the meat and provision business.
 An injunction decree to which the peckers have acceded will be entered in the federal courts to make the yreement binding Under it's terms the Big tiTc-SvSft, Armour. Morris, Wilson and Cudahy-have agreed:
 To sell under supervision of the United states district court, preferably Q fhc livestock producers and the pub hc, all their holdings in public. SHOCK yards.
 To sell under tho same supervision and in like manner, all their interests t stock yard railroads and terminals.
 To sell, under the same supervision, Rne in like manner, all their interests in market ncwspap pcrs.
 dispose of all their interest in public eo.d s,crFsc warehouses except as nc ossary for their own meat products.
 To forever dissociatc themselves Ei.h tho retail meat business.
 To forever dSssociatc themselves Ei'h 3ll' "uureated lines" including wholesale groceries, fresn. canned, dried or salt sfh. fresh. died CT canued Vea ctables. fresh. crushed. dried, evap- oratcd or canned fruits. confection- cries, syFups. soda water fountain sup plies. etc. molasses. honey, jams, jel- Ges and preserves. ices. sauces, relish es. eic., coffee. tea. chocolate. cocoa. nii,s, four, sugar. rico and cereals (Uith an exception to be noted) bread waters. cr0ckers. biscuits. spaghetti, Fcfmichclii. macaroni, cigars, china, furniture etc. . To forever abandon the usa of the branch houses. route cars and Automo- biic trucks, comprising. their distribu- Zion system, fer any other than their OWL meat and dairy products.
 T" perpetually submit to the iuris- 6ictiou of the United States district courts under an injunction fOreidding nll the defondants from directly OF in- aiiactly maintaining i,ny combination or conspiracy with each other or any other person or persons. or monop- olizing. or attenptng to monopolize, an:- food products in the United States or indulging in nay unfair or and un- lawful pra ractice.
 The decree further provides the Jurisdiction is pelpetua1ly retained by the courts for the purpose of taking such otber action, or adding at the fcol of the decree such other relief fl any. that may become necessary or ar3- prUpriate for the carrying out ana en- korcement of the decree or for the pur- pose of entertaining at any time here after in Inc application which the parties may make with respect to this decree.
 a tlle decree. which affects S7 corpora. lions and 49 individuals
 In general said Attorney Genera Palner's official announcement to- night, this decree prevents the de- Pendants from exercising any further co1trol over tho marketing of live stcck. It forever prevents them from any control over tine retailing of meal products. It eliminates them from the aeld of meat substitutes. with the ex- eeption of eggs. cutter, poultry anC cheese, which are left for future con- Blderation and appropriate action: and Therefore. the price of meat is within the control of the people themselves 1t places the conduct of these great aggregations of capital immediately under the eye of . federal court witt Inference to their business practices.
 But. greater than all. it establishs. the principle that no group of men. nc matter how powerful. can ever attempt to control the food table of the Ameri- can people or any one of the necessi. ties rcOmponent parts of it.
 The department of justice. havins in mind the necessities and interest. Of the whole AmJTiceu people in thh critical reconstruction period, feel! that by insisting upon this surrender on the nart of packing interests it ha. accomplished more for the American people than could have been hoped for as the result Of a long drawn out lega battle
 While Mir. Palmer views the packers submission to tho governments con. tentions as surrender Henry Needer, counsel for Swift and Com, rany. announced that the step wa: taken at Inc suggestion of the depart. ment of justice to avoid any appear. ence of antaconizing the governrncn and to remove causes of friction witt livestock producers and food distrib ntors. Emphatically. Mir .Vceder stated that thr decree was not to he con. et7led as an admission that Swift ant Company had violated any law.
 The company feels that the sam, spirit which caused the business -nlel of the country to submit to persona Racritiees to win the war he said "i just as essential during this period o reconstruction as then and therefor 1t meets the request of the governmen for the sacrifice of it's own interests The company has consented to the en Cry Of decree for an injunction onl, upon the expressed condition that 1 should in so many words recite that tn decree does not adjudicate that tn company has violated any law of tn United States-
 Attorney General Palmer said tha ofertures for cOmpronlisa came frs from inc 7acke"s. after Inc depart mont or iustirr had placed it's evidenc before sraad iuey in Chicago.
 The aititudn or Morris and Com pauy was expressed by M W. Bor ders, general counsel, who said tn firm had consented to the decree ii the spirit of true Americansm."
 We gave up certain legal rights am made certain business sacrifices in or der to meet tho views of the govern rnent.' he continued, and to foreve get at rest the fear of monopoly Q the American table by the packers.
 Bills proposing government regula tion of the packing industory now be fore tho senate agricuitural conr it 1ee. will not be abandoned as q Q ,sult Of the decrec. Senators Keny < hsEa and Keudrick Wvotninr arft ,