Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-19

Two years are given to comply
with the decree which affects 81
corporations and 49 individuals.
Lose Market Control.
"In general said Attorney Cen
eral Palmer's official announcement.
this decree prevents the defendants
from exercising any further control
over the marketing of live stock.
1t forever prevents them from any
control over the retailing of meat
products. 1t eliminates them from
the field of meat substitutes, with
the exception of eggs, butter, poul-
try and cheese, which are left for
future consideration and action; and
therefore the price of meat is within
the control of the people them
selves. 1t places the conduct Of
these great aggregations of capital
Immediately under the eye of fed
eral court with reference to their
business practices.
But, greater than all, it estab-
fishes the principle that no group
of men, no matter how powerful.
can ever attempt to control the food
table of the American people or
any one of the necessitie. or 4
component part OF it. 3
Satisfied With Result.
The Department of Justice, hav-
ing in mind the necessities and in
terests of the whole American peo-
pie in this critical reconstruction
period, feels that by insisting upon
this surrender on the part of the
packing interests it has accomplished
more for the American people than
could have been hoped for as the
result of long drawn-out legal bat
tie"
While Mr.. Palmer view. the
packers submission to the gov
ernments contentious as a Sur
render" Henry Veeder, counsel for
Swift & Co., announced that the
step was taken at the suggestion Of
the Department of Justice to avoid
any appearance OF. antagonizing the
government and to remove causes
OF friction with live stock producers
and food distributors. Emphaticallys
Mr.. Veeder stated that the decree
was not to be construed as an ad-
mission that Swift & Co. had vio-
lated any law.
Veeder's Statement.
The company feels that the same
spirit which caused the business
men of the country to submit to
personal sacrifices to win the war
ne said, is just as essential during
this period of reconstruction as then
and therefore it meets the request
OF the government for the sacrifice
OF its own interests. The COM
pany has consented to the proposal
of decree of injunction only upor
the expressed condition that IL
should in so many words recite that
the decree does not adjudicate that
the comnany has violated any law
of the United States"
Attorney General Palmer said
that overtures for a compromise
came first from the packers after the
Department of Justice had placed
its evidence before a grand iury in
Chicago.
The attitude of Morris & Co. was
expressed by NJ. w. Borders. GEN
eral counsel. who said the firm had
consented to the decree ''in the
spirit Of true Americanism."
We gave up certain legal rights
and made certain business sacrifices
in order to meet the views Of the
government" he continued. "and
to forever set at rest the fear Of
monopoly of the American table bv
the packers. In this period of re-
construction and unrest we desired
to promote confidence, cooperation
and stable conditions"
Won't Abandon Bills.
Bills proposing government rep,-
!atlon of the packing industry now
before the senate agriculture COM
mittee will not be abandoned as a
result of the decree. Senator's Ken
YOU, Iowa. and Kendrick, Wyoming.
authors of the measures. announced
tonight
THE attorney generals victory is y
merely step, though a very long
one, toward the goal we have been
seeking to attain said Mr.. Ken
irick. "The fruits of his victory
may be made permanent only by
legislation along the lines OF the
measures now pending.
Senator Kendrick said the decree
was the most telling blow" yet
delivered against the high cost of