Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-02-28
DECREE AGAINST B!(3 FIVE PACKERS MADE: MANDATORY Dissolution Must be Made Elf fective Within Two
 Years
PALMER IN STATEMENT
 OUTLINES THE TERMS
Declares Effect Will he Benefcial--- Packers, in Announc ement, State Question of Guilt
 Not Involved

t Not Involved
 :, Washington. Feb. 27. 7.--Divorcement of the packers from all business not directly related with the packing of meat was made mandatory etoday through signatures by Chief of Jus ticc Mccoy in the District of Colum- bia supreme court of decree filed i by Attorney General Palmer with the consent of the packers.
 The decree, which must be carried out within two years affects ST cor i porations and 49 individuals, of which Swift and company, Armour and com pany, Morris and company, Wilson and company and Cudahy company, are the major members.
 Attorney General Palmer in filing the decree explained the terms under which the agreement between the government and the packrs was reached.
 1 When he concluded a joint state ment for all the defendants was made by counsel and Justice Mccoy signed the decree, saying that as the parties were in agreement there was no question for him to determine.
 In his statement to the court, Mr. Palmer said the decree was Sweeping in it's scope" adding that he was sure it would be highly beneficial to the public in it's effect"
 M. W Borders, in making the joint statement for the defendants said it was not guilt which prompted In o1, 4, tA,, for they have not violated any law" |, Instead, the packers, he said, desired
 to assure the American people that monopoly of the food supply by the packers was not possible; to stop criticism of the industry, damaging alike to it and to the people; to pro.
 mote better understanding between
 the industry and the public during "the dangerous position and recon
 struction" and to stabilize conditions
 in order that efficiency and benefits , of the industry might be preserved"
 Palmer's Statement.
 Attorney General Palmer in a
 statement commenting on the effect
 of the divorcement decree said: "The decree which the department
 of justice has brought about by ur-
 gent insistencc, is designed to re-
 store freedom of competition and : increase the opportunities for indi-
 vidual initiative in business which
 must in time bear good fruit for the public welfare. Those great aggregations of capi- , ta, which have come to be known as
 the big five have bee nable to domi- nate so many lines of trade that their  , constituted real menace not only
 to American business, but to the l Anne rican consuming public as well.
 Under the decree entered today f the chief packing companies, their , subsidiaries and principal stock
 holders are compelled to sell prefer able to live stock producers and the public.
 "All their holdings in public stock F yards;
 "All their interest in stockyard railroads and terminals; , "All their interest in market news 1, papers;
 [ "All their interest in public cold storage warehouses, except that which is necessary for their own 7 meat products;
 "They are barred forever from the f retail meat business;
 "They are barred forever from
 dealing in unrelated lines which in-
 clude:
 !, "Wholesale groceries, fresh, cann- ? ed, salted fish; fresh, dried or can
 ned friuts; confectionaries, syrups soda water fountain supplies, molass, ? es, honey, jams, jellies and preserv- , es, spices, sauces, relishes, etc., cof- fee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, nuts, flour
 sugar, rice and cereals (with certain
 limited exceptions with respect to cereals).
 Bread, waters, crackers, biscuits = spaghetti, vermicelli, macaroni {, cigars, furniture, and so forth.
 "They are required to abandon for , ever the use of their branch hous. es, route cars and auto trucks com , prising their distribution system, foi i sny other their own meats and dairy , products.
 Y "They are required to submit per. , petually to the courts injunction for bidding all the defendants from di. f rectly or indirectly maintaining any , combination or conspiracy with them n selves or any other person or per. ! sons, or monopolizing or attempting r to monopolize any food product ir F the United States, or indulge in any n unfair or unlawful practice.
 Moreover. the degree provides that I Jurisdiction is pertually provided by D the court for the purpose of taking ? such further action or relief as may , be necessary in the circumstances tt Q carry out or enforce the decree.
 "In brief the decree removed thu
 menace of control of unrelated indus tries 4by the big five, and confines their activities in future to the busi F ness of distributing meat and it F by-products. under an injunction F which restraints them from unfair ant unlawful practices.
 "The decree is sweeping in it F scope and I am sure will be highl. : beneficial to the public in it's eff ' feet.
 E "The decree, which involves reor F ganization of great industry wit ' assets of more than $1,000, 900 ,00( ' and which affects e7 corporations, 4 ' individcals, results from an agree : ment between the larger meat pack . ers and the department of justice an . nouncsl December 18."