The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-07
Wants to Know His Attitude
Toward New Legislation.
DISSOLUTION BEING HURRIED
First of Unscrambling Suits
Now Being Prepared.
Federal Trade Body Goes Ahead
With Own Prosecution.
BULLETIN.

Washington, Jan. THE ."big
five" packers are still subject to Grim
inal prosecution of civil suits despite
their agreement with the government
to get rid of their side lines. Attorney
General Palmer told the senate agri-
culture committee today.
Palmer. who drew the agreement
with the packers. denied emphatically
that he had promised them immunity
Washington, Jan. Attorney Cen
eral Palmer was called befors the sem
ate agriculture committee today to be
questioned as to the agreement he re-
Gently made with the ''big five" pack
ers.
Palmer agreed to abandon plans
for federal prosecution of the packers
under antitrust laws on the promise
of the five concerns to quit all deal
ings in commodities other than meat
and meat products.
The inquiry today was expected to
take on added interest in view of Pal
mer's prominence as a possibility for
| the Democratic presidential nomina-
ton.
Senators planned to learn whether
Palmer is opposed to further legisla-
tiOn to regulate the packers in view of
| the recent pledge that they will with
draw from all unrelated lines. Chair
| man Gronna and other members of
the committee plan to go ahead with
| permanent legislation regardless of
| the Palmer agreement but the COM
mittee is far apart on the form the
| proposed regulation should take.
Some senators on the committee. in
| Guiding Gronna and Norris, Nebraska.
are said to be skeptical of results,
| that can be accomplished under Pal
mer's plan. but Kenyon. Iowa, and
Kendrick, Wyoming. authors of packer
regulation measures, have gone on
record as approving Palmer's agree
lment.
To Hasten Compliance.
The committee now has pending a
suggestion drawn up by Kenyon and
iKendrick which would create a fed
eral livestock commission to super
ivise the meat industry. 1t would be
similar in nature to the interstate
commission in the regulation of rail-
roads.
Palmer is Fastening preparations. II
was announced today, for carrying out
the governments plan for dissolution
of the "big five meat packers con-
troll of unrelated products.
Meanwhile, the federal trade COM
mission is going ahead independently
with its own plans to force dissolution
of the alleged food trust controlled by
the packers.
The commission has cited the pack
ers in thirty-one cases of alleged vio-
Iation of the Clayton antitrust act
Hearings will commence about Feb
ruary 1, it was announced today at the
commissions offices
Prepares New Suit.
Meanwhile, Palmer is preparing tht
suit the government must file in the
Chicago federal court as the first steI
I.s.- ,z1a r-Hf hi 1fracr n
the packers interest in the manufac-
ture of canned vegetables, breakfas
foods, macaroni, syrups and in hun
dreds of subsidiary concerns.
Palmer intends to file his suit with
in few days. Under the prearrangeC
plan this will be a mere matter o.
form since the packers have agreed
ITO make formal reply and then sub
NIT to the allegations in the suit
From then on the unscrarnbling proc
ess will be in the hands of the court
1t is predicted this will require abou
two years.