Evening star., 1920-02-27
PACKERS ENJ0|NED
FROM CONTINUING
THEIR SIDE LINES
Chief Justice McCol Signs
Consent Decree-Attorney
! Generals Statement.

supreme our ttNAN - '''' - ''''.' -
decree enjoining tn" big i've pa X
ers from continuing an alleged comb .
nation in restraint OF trade. and from
engaging in business L"t r.rsrIy Al
lied TO the meat business.
The decree is based OF a suit for in
Junction filed in open court ~ N'j"r-
ncy General y Mitchell Palmer. on
behalf of the United states against
Swift & Co, Armour 20. Morris y
60, Wilson Il 60. tn" tuddtN Pac-A
ing Company aud affiliated corporal
tions and individuals.
Ei<hty-FOur corporations Affected.
Mr.. Palmer cNpluired to the court
ehat the defendants comprise eighty
Your corporations and fort eight IN
dividuals and that answers were to
be filed in behalf OF all. \ stipulation
would also be filed. NJ said. in which
consent decree had been reached
ny which the packers w"re to be di-
Norced from all lines OF business in
% mich they are now engaged except
the meat business and the dealing in
eggs. butter. cheese and poultry.
AS the parties had agreed to the
form OF Injunction. chief Justice Me
Coy declared there Was nothing for
him TO determine. and Signed III" de-
cree.
Mr.. Palmer Causes stir.
The appearance OF Attorn"! Gen
eral Palmer at the courthouse caused
quite IA stir. The oldest employ Of
the building could not recall when
the governments chief Jaw officer had
come to court in person TO prrssu.
case for the government Deputy
n'arshals We're posted at every en-
trance Ia the building 10 serve as
guides TO the Attorney General Mr.
Palmer arrival visited the o:'ice
Of United state Attorney LaskeN
and in company with that Official
entered the courtroom at ~ o'clock.
His address to the court occupied
about thirty-fvc minutes iitcr the
decree had been signed he conferred
with counsel for the pack before
leaving the building.
Picture Taking barred.
A battery of photographers was
lined up in the courtroom Wneu Chief
Justice Mccoy open"n court. His at
tention being attracted to the camera
men, he gave orders that no pictures
were to be taken IN the courtroom.
Other photographers arriving later
were allowed to enter the room only
after depositinS cameras On the out
side. The mea. however. secured
Snaps" of the Attorney General as
he entered the building.
Attorney Generals Statement.
The Attorney Generals statement in
connection with the signing of tte decree
follows:
The decree. which tho Department
Of Jnstfce has brought about by urgent
1nsistence. 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.
Those great aggregations of capital
which have come to be known as the
big five have been able to dominate
so many lines of trade that their con-
tinued Snd unrestrained growth con-
stituted n real menace not only to
American business. but to the Ameri-
can consuming public as well.
Terms Of the Decree.
''Cnoer the decree entered today the
chief packing companies. their subsd-
compelled to sell preferably to live
stock producers and the public:
IAN their holdings in public stock
5ards.
"All their interest in stockyard rail-
roads and terminals.
"All their interest in market news
papers.
All their interest in public cold
storage warehouses. except that which
is necessary for their own meat
products.
They are barred forever from the
retail meat business.
"unrelatrd Lines- Barred.
Ing In unrelated lines which include
wholesale groceries. fresh canned
dried or salted fish; fresh. dried or
canned vegetables; fresh, crushed
DRIED. evaporated or canned fruits:
ronfectioneries, syrups. soda water
fountain supplies, molaSSes honey
jams. Jellies and preserves. spices
sauces, relishes. etc; coffee tea. choc-
olate. cocoa, nuts, -four. sugar rice
and cereals with certain limited ex-
GPntlOn roc ia
wafers. crackers. biscuit. spaghetti.
Nermicelli. macaroni, cigars, china
furniture and so forth
They are required TO abandon for
ever the use of their branch houses
route ears and auto tru,k ks comprising
their distribution system for any 9TH
er than their own meats and dairy
products.
They are required TO submit per-
pctualiy to the courts Injunction for
hidding all the defendants from di-
fe'tI! or indirectly maintaining any
combination or conspiracy with Them
selves or any other person or persons.
or monopollzing or attempting to mo-
nopoiizc amy food product in the
lnited States. or indulge in any unfair
Or unlawful practice.
Court Retains Jurisdiction.
Moreover. the decree provides that
jurisdiction is perps 'ualIy retained bv
the court for the purpose of taking
such further action or relief as NAV
be necessary in the circumstances to
carry out or enforce the decree.
I'm brief, the decree removes tho
menace of control of unrelated indus
tries by the big five and confines
their activities in future to th.. busi-
ness of distributing meat and its nv
products, under an injunction which
restrainS them from unfair ana mn,
lawful practices
The decree is SWespiup in iis Scon.
and am sure viii be highly benz
hcial TO the public in its effect
The decree. which involves reor-
sahizatIon OF great industry with
assets OF more than $1,000. .OOO. 600. and
which affects eighty-sev.n cornora
tlohs and fortY-nine Individuals re-
suits from an agree nent between the
larger meat packers and the Depart
ment OF Justice. announced last De-
cember. This agreement was reached
after the department at the direction
of President Wilson, had instituted
suti-trust proceedings against the
packers in Chicago.
Effect OF Filing Decree.
Agreement for the fling of the do
cree, Mr.. Palmer said, in announcing
il last December, would have The ef
feet of establishing the princ;pI.
mat no group OF men. no matter how
powerful. can ever attempt to control
The food table of the American people
or amy one of the necessities or com
ponent parts OF it."
The attitude OF the packers was
summed up at that time bv Al W
Borders. general counsel for Morris a.
Co. as illustrating the spirit of true
Americanism' of the packing indus
try. Henry Feeder. counsel for Swift
4 Co. asserted his company had met
the request of the government be-
cause it was felt that the same spirit
which caused the business men of the