The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-03-04
FINAL PACKING
DECREE FILED
Attorney General Palmer Writes
Last Chapter in Divorce
ment.
MUST DEAL ONLY IN MEATS
Removes Menace of Control OF oh'
related Industries by big Five"
and Confines Activities to
Distributing Meat.

Washington, March 1.-The agreed
decree under which the Big o. pack
ers are forever cnjoucd from engag'
ing in any line of business other thah
that Of handling meats and produce
was filed in the District of Columbia
Supreme court. II was submitted by
Attorney General Palmer who sald
fl removed the menace Of control OF
unrelated industries by the Big . and
confined their activities in the future
10 the business Of distributing meat
and is by.products.
Counsel for the packers IN a state
ment To the court said the decree had
been agreed to by the defendants mot
because Of guilt, for they have not yio-
lated any law, but that the American
people may be assured that there Is
not the remotcst possibility Of food
monopoly by the packers
II was submitted by Attorney Cen
ernl Palmer, who said It removes the
llltlltlf 'I fblllIb VI VI hlll 'ih''A '''''NH
tries by the big five and confines their
activities In future to the business OF
distributing meat and its byprodnctS.'
Attorney General Palmer in Il state
mcut commenting on the effect OF
the packers enforcement decree, said:
"Thc decree which the department
of Justice has brought about by urgent
inslsDcncc 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
"Thcsc 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
tkelr continued and unrestrained
growth constituted real menace not
only TO American business, but to the
American consuming public MS we'll
"Undcr the decree the chief packing
companies, their subsidiaries and prjn-
cipaI stockholders are compelled to
sell preferably 10 live stock producers
and the public
"AlI their holdings in public stock
yards;
AN their interest in stock-yard rail-
roads and terminals;
"All their interest in market news
papers;
"All their interest in public cold stor-
age warehouses, except that which
Is necessary for their own meat prod
ucts.
"They are barred forever from the
retail meat business.
"They are barred forever from deal
Ing in unrelated lines. which Include :
Wholesale groceries, fresh, canned,
dried, sailed fish, fresh. dried or
canned vegetables; fresh, crushed,
dried, evaporated or canned fruits /:
confectlonerIcs slrups, soda water
fountain supplies, moasscs. honey,
jams jcllIcs ana preserves, spices,
sauces, rolshcs, etc. coffee, tea choco-
late, cocoa nuts, flour, sugar, rice and
cereals with certain limited cxccp-
tons with respect TO cerculs), bread,
waters crackers, biscuit spaghetti,
velmicclIi macoroni cigars china,
furniture ond so forth
"Thcy are required 10 abandon for
ever the use of their branch houses,
route cars and auto trucks comprising
their distributing system. for any
other thou their own meats ana dairy
products
"1hoy are required TO submit per-
pctually 70 the courts injunction for
bidding all the defendants from direct
Ir or indirectly maintaining any com
bination or conspiracy with themselves
or other persons to monopollzc any
food product I'm the United States. or
indulge IN amy unfair or unlawful prac-
ticp
Moreover the decree provides that
jurisdiction is pcrpciunIly retained by
the court for the purpose OF taking
such farther action or relief as may
hc necessary IN the circumstances TO
carry ont or enforce the decree.
an brief the decree removes the
menace Of control Of unrelated indus.
tries by the big Five ana confines
their activities In future to the nusl.
ness Of distributing mcat qnd Is by.
products under an Injunction which
Restraints them from unfair ana unnw.
ful Practices