Grand Forks herald., 1919-12-18
His Announcement Comes Az
An Answer To Current
Reports That Palmer VIII
Make Statement That The
Packer. Will Quit Every
Line With The Exception
OF Meats. II /.

chicago, Dec. 18.-A dozen or
more important side line industries
OF the Chicago meat packers, involv-
ing investments Of many millions Of
dollars, will be disposed of under the,
stipulated decree soon to be entered
IN the United States court at Wash
lngton on motion of Attorney General
Palmer.
While representatives Of the pack
ers today declined to discuss the de-
tails of the decree under which the
packers in the future will be required
to confine their business activities
to the production of meat, poultry,
butter, eggs and cheese, it was
learned from an authoritative source
that the outline Of the plan had been
agreed upon.
Among the lines Of business which
1t is said the packers will be ordered
to withdraw are the following:
Leather: canned fruits and vegetables.
soap. cleansing powders. groceries.
fertilizers cold storage, fish, refriger-
ator car lines, cereals. glue, sporting
goods and the control Of stockyarda.
Representatives of the packers OK
press the view that under the pro-
posed plan they might continue to
manufacture soap and fertilizer az
they are natural products of the meat
packing industry. Some, doubt was
powders is an animal product Ono
purpose of the proposed reorganizA-
ton, it is said, is to prevent from
engaging in the wholesale grocery
business.
Swift and Company already have
segregated its South American and
Australian meat business, its fruit
and vegetable canning industry. and
it's manufacture of leather. Wilson
and Company recently disposed Of it's
!! wholesale grocery lines to q New
York firm.
Chicago. Dec. 1s.-DiDofution Of
the wholesale grocery interests OF the
big Five" packers would not seri-
Swift, head of Swift and Company,
said today in discussing a report that
A. Mitchell Palmer. United States at
torney general, would announce today
or tomorrow an agreement Of the
packers to dissolve all interests ex-
cept those involved in production Of
meat, poultry, butter. eggs and cheese
The meat canning, soap making and
| fertilizer sidelines would not be af-
| fected. Mr.. Swift said. III
Tanning interests Of Swift and
Company were dissolved last summer,
Mr.. Swift said, when ~ new corpora
/! ton known az National Leather was
!, I l25!neo ~ ;e'- t:-s b. 4
L @5a y 4 Wlsrn csrs duift. sjassss i
| OF the other members ofsthe Eroup
known as the big Five" Wilson and
Company announced some time ago
that it has disposed Of Its branches pf
industry affiliated with the, wholesale
| grocery business and Armour ana
Company several weeks ago were re-
ported to have begun arranging a
nj RI
arate financing of more than 100 sub
sidiary properties.
''1t is Mr.. Palmer's party: he win
have to do the talking" officials Of
Armour and Company said this morn
ing. Mr. Armour has nothing to say
at this time"
Consider Reorganization.
! Robert ]. Dunham. vice president
OF Armour and Company stated last
week that the company was consider
ing two plans Of reorganizing. but
that several months would be requir-
ed to work out all the details New
York banking interests were taking
an advisory part in tho plan. it was
reported at that time. One plan. ac-
cording to Mr.. Durham, involved re-
financing of the present company,
while the other proposed segregation
Of the subsidiary concerns. b
Mr.. Dunham attributed furry in
Armour stock to guessing" Of specu-
lators that the reorganization would
mean melon" for the stockholders
The Big Five" according to figures
here have assets totalling $790,o97.-
1856, working capital of $375,210,793,
and surpluses of $257,051,3 ,343.
Negotiations Carried On
Washington. Dec. 1s.-Negotia-
tions between the meat packers and
! the government, it became known to-
day. have been going on for some