Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-08-13
US. TO PROSECUTE
CHICAGO PACKERS
Criminal and Civil Actions Are
Set in Motion.
SAID THEY CONTROL PRICES
Attorney General Palmer Charges
Clear Violation of Antitrust Law
Arrest of All Hoarders and
Profiteers Is Directed.

Washington, Aug. 7-Developments
In the governments drive on the high
cost of living popped out so fast that
they tumbled over one another.
Attorney General Palmer announced
the bringing of antitrust suits against
the five great packing concerns-Ar-
mour, Swift, Wilson, Morris and
Cudahy.
At the same time the attorney gen.
eral ordered all agents of the depart
ment of justice to arrest profiteers,
hoarders and other contributors to
soaring food costs. The first arrests
came in Pittsburgh where a concern
was wholesaling sugar at IA cents a
pound.
Food boards may be confscated by
the government.
President Wilson declined a sugges-
ton of Republican Leader Mondell in
the house that he postpone his address
to congress on the high cost of living
from Friday to next Tuesday. The
president went ahead with plans to
speak at four o'clock Friday after
noon.
InterTlngled with the cost of living
situation was the decision of the SEE.
ate Interstate commerce committee to
notify the president that it disagrees
with his suggestion for a special wage
board to deal with railway employees
demands. The committee holds the
president has sufficient authority al
ready to deal with the situation.
Palmer to Prosecute Packers.
Antitrust suits against the FIVE big
meat packers will be instituted imme-
diately by the department of justice.
Attorney General Palmer announced
that the evidence before the federal
trade commission and committees of
congress indicated "a clear violation of
the antitrust laws" and that he had
ordered prompt action accordingly"
Isidor ]. Kresel of the New York
law firm of jerome, Rand & Kresel
will have charge of the case, and Mr..
Palmer said he would be given such
assistance by the department of jus
tice "as the case seems to warrant"
Mr.. Palmer's announcement follows:
1.-The department of justice has
made a careful review of the evidence
developed by the investigation into the
combination of packers, both by the
federal trade commission and the hear
ings before the committees of con-
gress. This review has been made by
lawyers specially retained for the pur-
pose, and their report is now in hand.
l am satisfied that the evidence adj
duced indicates a clear violation of the
antitrust laws, and prompt action Will
be taken accordingly.
Further proceedings. while under
the immediate direction of the depart
ment of justice. will be in charge of
Isidor ]. Kresel of the law firm of
Jerome, Rand 4 Kresel of New York,
WHO will be gwen such assistance as
the case seems to warrant"
Names the Companies.
BY combination of packers" Mr..
Palmer said he meant Swift & Co,
Armour & Co., Morris & Co, Cudahy
Packing company and Wilson & Co.
He declined to say whether criminal or
civil suits would be instituted, but said
the law made provision for both. He
would not say in what jurisdiction the
suits would be brought.
Mr.. Kresel, the man who will be in
direct charge of the prosecutions
against the packers, headed the com
mittee which examined the evidence
submitted. He has had wide expert
ence in handling prosecutions, ii was
said, both as assistant to District At
torney Jerome of New York and in
private practice. Mr.. Palmer sold he
had used Mr.. Kresel in some of the
most intricate and exacting work con-
nected with the office of alien property
custodian, where it was essential to
show capabilities in sitting evidence.
All district attorneys in the United
States were ordered by Attorney Cen
eral Palmer to proceed Immediately in
the prosecution of all persons guilty
of boarding foodstuffs and to libel the
foodstuffs for condemnation.
Conditions" said Mr.. Palmer's tele-
gram to the attorneys, require a
country wide campaign against hoard
ers and profteers, and l desire the de-
partrlent of justice to use every legal
means available to put an end to these
activities.
This is the most important business
before the country today. propose to
have the law enforcement machinery
of the government sidetrack every
thing for this job.
'oThe food control act, which is still
in force, in section 6, makes boarding
of necessaries as therein defined
crime. and section provides that
whenever necessaries shall be boarded
they may be proceeded against by
process of libel for condemnation"
Mr.. Palmer believes that profteering
also can be reached by the government,
although he has said there was no way
in which to punish directly a man
guilty of extortion in prices. He said.
he was not ready to discuss what ac-
ton he proposed TO take and declined
to indicate whether II would be through
new legislation or extra legal means.
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