Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-18

expected to announce the de-
tails ut 4 p. m. today.
Chicago, Dec. 18.-A dozen or
more side line industries Of the
Chicago meat packers. involving
Investments Of many millions Of
dollars. will be di& posed of under
the stipulated decree soon be en-
tered In the United States court at
Washington on motion of Attor-
ney General Palmer.
While representative of the
packers today declined to discuss
the details Of the decree under
which the packers in the future
will be required to confine the bus
fness activities to the production Of
meat. poultry. butter. eggs and
cheese, 1t was learned from an au-
thoritative source that the outline
: OF the plan had been agreed upon.
Many Lines Dropped.
Among the lines of business
which 1t is expected the packers
will be ordered to withdraw under
the stipulated court decree are the
following:
Leather, canned fruits and vege-
tables, soap, Qeansing powders,
groceries, fertilizers. cold storage,
fish. refrigerator. car lines. cereals,
glue. sporting goods and the con-
troll Of stock yards.
Keep Soap Factories.
Representatives of the packers
express the view that under the
proposed plan they might continue
to manufacture soap and fertilizer
as they are natural products Of the
meat packing industry. Some doubt
was expressed as to whether
cleansing powders is an animal
product.
Deprecates Effect.
,6Chicago, Dec 1S.-Dissolution OF
ffhe wholesale grocery interests OF
the "big FIVE" packers would not
seriously affect any Of them, Louis
+. Swift, head Of Swift & Co., said
today in discussing report that
A. Mitchell Palmer. United States
attorney general, would announce
today or tomorrow an agreement
of the packers to dissolve all in
terests e0cept those involved in
production of meat, poultry, butter,
eggs and cheese. The meat can
ming, soap making and fertilizer
side lines would not be affected,
Mr.. Swift said.
Tanning interests Of Swift & Co..
were dissolved last summer, Mr..
Swift said when q new corporation
known as National Leather was
formed.
Armour Doing Same.
Wilson L Co., announced some
time ago that 1t had disposed Of its
branches Of industry affiliated with
Nthe wholesale grocery business and
Armour 4 Co., several weeks ago
were reported to have begun ar
ranging q plan looking to segrega-
tion and separate financing Of its
more than 100 subsidiary proper
ties.
II know nothing about the state
ment that the packers aseented to
this decree because of assurance
that the government would win its
dissolution suit against the United
States Steel corporation" Mr.. Swift
continued. Il have never heard of
any such report.
pr1cA E0Ncf DAuhffuI.
II am unable to comment Upon
the effect this decision or agree
ment will have on foodstuff prices.
THE decision probably means
that the packers must discontinue
their Wholesale grocery interests.
The dissolution of these interests
will not seriously affect Swift &
Co., nor any Of the packers, for
these interests are comparatively
small.
"Of course thisA announcement
can not affect the fAdividual stuck
holders who may elect to buy stock
In the organizations which will be
formed out Of the dissolutions."
More Capital for Meat.
Later Mr.. Swift In q formal state
ment said:
referring to the decree in ques-
tion Swift 4 Co. have already made
q dissolution Of their leather busi-
ness, a. well as the ownership of
Libby, Mcneil & Libby "a fruit and
Hmeat canning subsidiary and also
their packing house business in
South America and Australia and
have been anticipating something
Of. this kind for some time.
Our earnings will not be un-
favorably affected as the lines pro-
hibited have not been especially
profitable. 1t. will give us more
available cash capital for the real
meat business od its allied pro-
ducts"
Eastern Banks Involved.
Robert J. Dunbam, vice presi-
dent Of Armour & Co.. stated last