Republican farmer., 1920-03-05
CANNOT HAVE ANY
 BUSINESS EXCEPT
 MEAT AND PRODUCE.
Attorney General al1ner Says This Act Re moves the Menace of Control of Unrelated Industries by Big Five and Limits Their Ac- tiviitties.

Washington, Feb. 27-(By he Associated Press) - The agreed decree under which the Big Five" packers are for ever enjoined from engaging in line of business, other than that of handling meat and pro duce, was filed today in the District of Columbia supreme court.
 It>was submitted by Attorney Gen eraI Palmer, who said it removes the menace of control of unrelated indus l tries by the Big Five, and confines l their activities in future to the busi- ness of distributing meat and it's by products" ' l 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 ] violated any law, but that the Ameri- l can people may be assured that there is not the remotest possibility of food monopoly by the packers.' i After hearing statements by counsel for the government and the packers Chief Justice Mccoy signed the in- ] junction making effective the agree ment.
 Attorney General Palmer, in a state ment commenting on the effects of the divorcement decree, said: 'fThe decree, which the department i of justice has brought about by ur- gent insistence, is designed to restore freedom of competition and increase the opportunities for individual in litiative in business which must in time bear good fruit for the public welfare.
 Those great aggregations of capi- tai which have come to be known as the "big five'' have been able to dom mate so many lines of trade that their lcontinued and unrestrained growth constituted a real menace not only to American business, but to the Ameri- can consuming public as well.
 Under the decree entered today the
 chief packing companies, their sub sidiaries and principal stockholders l are compelled to sell, preferably to ] live stock producers and the public:
 t'AlI their holdings in public stock
 yards.
 "AII their interest in stockyard
 railroads and terminals.
 ''AlI their interest in market news , papers.
 "All their interest in public cold
 storage warehouses, except that which is necessary for their own meat pro- , ducts.
 ''They are barred forever from the
 retail meat business.
 ''They are barred forever from deal ing in unrelated line8' which in , | clude:
 wholesale groceries, fresh, canned
 dried or saIted fish; fresh, dried or
 canned vegetables; fresh, crushed,
 dried, evaporated or canned fruits;
 confectionery, syrup, soda water foun- l tain supplies, molasses, honey, jams,
 jeIlies and preserves, spices, sauces,
 relishes. etc., coffee, tea, chocolate,
 cocoa, nuts, flour, sugar, rice and
 cereals (with certain limited excep-
 ion with respect to cereals) bread, wafers, crackers, biscuit, spaghetti vermici1li macroni, cigars, china, fur
 niture.
 They are required to abandon for ' ever the use of their branch houses,
 route cars and auto trucks comprising
 their distribution system, for any
 other than their own meats and dairy products.
 "They are required to submit per , petuaIly to the courts injunction for
 bidding all the defendants from di-
 rectly or indirectly maintaining any combination or conspiracy with them selves or any other person or persons
 
 monopolize any food product in the , United States, or indulge in any un- fair or unlawful practice. Moreover, the decree provides that jurisdiction expressly retained by the
 court of taking such further action or relief as may be necessary in circum- , stances to carry out or enforce the I decree.
 "In brief. the decree removes the , menace of control of unrelated indus tries by the Big Five, and confines their activities in future to the busi- . ness of distributing meat and its by 5 products under an injunction which restraints them from unfair and un- lawful practices.
 The decree, which involves reor- l ganization of a great industry with
 assets of more than $1,0OO, 900, ,OOO
 and which affects S7 corporations and
 49 individuals, results from an agree Y ment between the larger meat packers
 and the department of justice an
 nounced last December IS. This
 agreement was reached after the de- ? partment at the direction of Presi- ) dent Wilson had instituted antitrust ! proceedings against the packers in
 Chicago.
 Agreement for the filing of the de- cree, MT. Palmer said in announcing tlC last December, would have the ef- feet of establishing 'fthe principle that no group of men, no matter how pow 3 erful, can ever attempt to control the s food table of the American people 5 or any one of the necessities or com l ponent parts of it."
 l The attitude of the packers was summed up at that time by M. W
 Borders. general counsel for Morris
 and Company, as illustrating the
 spirit of true Americanism" of the
 packing industry. Henry Veeder. f counsel for Swift and Company, as serted his company had met the re- . quest of the government because il v was felt that the same spirit which !. caused the business men of the coUn- r try to submit to personal sacrifices r during the war is just as essential t during the period of reconstruction" = Morristown, N. J., Feb. 27-A be-