Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-03-05
final PACKING
DECREE FILED
Attorney General Palmer Writes
Last Chapter in Divorce
ment.
MUST DEAL ONLY IN MEATS
Removes Menace Of Control Of Un.
related Industries by big Five"
and Confines Activities to
Distributing Meat.

Washington, March 1.-The agreed
decree under which the big 5" pack
ers are forever enjoined from engag-
ing in any line of business other than
that of handling meats and produce
was filed in the District Of Columbia
Supreme court. 1t was submitted by
Attorney General Palmer, who said
it removed the menace Of control Of
unrelated industries by the Big g. and
confined their activities in the future
to the business of distributing meat
and its by-products.
Counsel for the packers in state
ment to the court said the decree had
been agreed to by the defendants mot
because Of guilt, for they have not vio-
lated any law, but that the American
people may be assured that there Is
not the remotest possibility Of food
monopoly by the packers"
1t was submitted by Attorney Cen
eraI Palmer, who said 1t removes the
menace of control of unrelated indus
tries by the big five and confines their
activities In future to the business of
distributing meat and its by-products." )"
Attorney General Palmer, in a state
ment commenting on the effect of
the packers enforcement decree. said :
"The decree which the department
of justice has brought about by urgent
insistence Is designed to restore free
dom of competition and increase the
opportunities for individual initiative
in business which must in time bear
good fruit for the public welfare.
"These great aggregations Of cap
ital, which have come to be known as
the Big Five have been able to
dominate SO many lines of trade that
their continued and unrestrained
growth constituted a real menace not
only to American business, but to the
American consuming public as well.
'Under the decree the chief ef-packing
companies, their subsidiaries and prin-
cipal stockholders are compelled to
sell preferably to live stock producers
and the public
"All their holdings in public stock
yards;
"AH their interest in stock-yard rail
roads aad terminals;
"All their interest in market news
papers;
"All their interest In public cold-stor
age warehouses, except that which
isN necessary for their own meat prod
ucts.
"They are barred forever from thu
retail meat business.
"They are barred forever from deal
ing in unrelated lines which include
Wholesale groceries, fresh, canned
dried, safted fish; fresh, dried O.
canned vegetables; fresh, crushed
dried, evaporated or canned fruits
confectioneries, sirups, soda waite
fountain supplies. molasses, honey
jams. jellies and preserves, spices
sauces, relishes, ETC., coffee, tea choco
late, cocoa, nuts, flour, sugar, rice an
cereals with certain limited excer
tions with respect to cereals), bread
waters, crackers, biscuit, spaghetti
vermicelli, macaroni, cigars. china
furniture and so forth.
"They are required to abandon fol
ever the use of their branch house.
route cars and auto trucks comprisin
their distributing system, for an
other than their own meats and dair
products.
"They are required to submit pei
petually to the courts injunction fo
bidding all the defendants from direc
ly or indirectly maintaining any con
bination or conspiracy with themselve
or other persons. to monopolize an
food product in the United States. {
indulge in any unfair or unlawful pra
tice.
Moreover, the decree provides ths
Jurisdiction is perpetually retained b
the court for the purpose Of takin
such further action or relief as ma
be necessary in the circumstances 1
carry out or enforce the decree.
'Tn brief. the decree removes II
menace of control of unrelated indu
tries By the Big Five and confin,
) their activities in future to the bus
ness of distributing meat and It's b
products under an injunction whic
restrains them from unfair and unIay
full practices"