New-York tribune., 1919-12-19
Stockyards, Retail Stores,
Railroads, Warehouses
and Canning Factories
Will Be Disposed Of
4S Corporations,
80 Men, Affected
Willingness Not Admits
sion of Violation of
Laws, Says Counsel
Nssc York Trt5ss~s
Washington BesreaAs

NN'S''' CveP
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-Con-
troll by five big packing companies
Of "the food table Of the American
people" has been broken.
Attorney General Palmer tonight
announced the agreement Of the
packers to plan of voluntary dis
solution of any existing understand
ing among them, to the separation OF
the five from all their principal sub
salaries, and their retirement from
the many commercial fields they
have entered in the last few years.
The packers are given two years TO
carry out the terms Of the e4ree-
ment.
The agreement will be nnade che
subject Of a Federal court s'consent
decree" and the defendant corpora
tions and individuals will be put IN
der a permanent injunction to obey
its terms.
In selling their subsidiaries the
packers will act under the super~
vision Of the Federal court, and viii
not be permitted to make any other
than bona fde transfers Of owner
ship. The decree has been drawn
by the government
Left to the packers will be virtu-
ally nothing but the packing bust
ness. Their stockyards, their rail
roads, storage warehouses, their re-
tail meat businesses and other lines.
including groceries, canned fruits,
etc, must go into other hands.
Only ''Hos and Squeal" Left
"About all they will have left up-
der the Decree said one official Of
the Department of Justice, will be
the hog and the squeal"
The Attorney General tonight is-
sued long statement outlining tho
settlement with the packers, of
which the following is his own con-
clusjon:
"In general this decree prevents the
defendants from exercising any fur
ther control over the marketing of
livestock. It forever prevents them
from any control over the retailing Of
meat products. Ii eliminates thsm
from the field OF meat substitutes. with
the exception OF eggs. butter, poultry
and cheese, which are left foc future
consideration and appropriate action.
and. therefore, the price Of meat is
within the control of the people them
selves.
ut places the conduct OF these great
aggregatons OF capital Immediately
under the eye Of a Federal court With
reference to their business practices.
But. greater than all, it establishes the
principle that no group Of men, no
matter how powerful. can ever attempt
TO control the food table Of the Amer
lean people. or any one Of the neces-
ssres or component parts Of 1t.
Packers Surrendered. Says PalmAs
"The Department Of Justice, having
in mind the necessities and Interests
OF the whole American people in this
critical reconstruction period, feels
that by insisting upon this surrender
on the part Of the packing interests il
has accomplished more for the Ameri-
can people than could have been hoped
for as the result Of long g-drawn-out
legal battle"
In discussing the case tonight Mr..
Palmer said tho negotiations were in
itiated by the packers months ago
They sent word they wiAhed to con
Ter with him and he refu,'ed to do 30
II they desired t. take up the suit he
had announced he expected to bring
or to discuss anything except q Sur
render They came on that under
standing and "ssrrendered" The con-
sent decree is the result.
is 1t more than you could expect
from a lawsuit" Mr.. Palmer was
asked
1T is more than we could expect"
was his answer.
Criminal Suits to Stop
Although Mr.. Palmer did not saw
so, 1t was understood here tonight
that this settlement under the consent
decree viii stop any criminal proceed
ings against tho packers. Facts against
them were laid before a Federal grand
Jury in Chicago months ago, but no In
dictments have been returned. The
government in the past has not been
successful In criminal prosecutions
under the antitrust law
Mr. Palmer would not indicate to-
night in what Federal coart he would
enter the decreer but it probably will
though 1t may e ~ Chicago. 4.