The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-04-02
PALMER SAYS
PACKERDECR[E
HELPS PUBLIC
Defends Settlement With
Big Five as the Beat
Course

WASHINGTON. April a.-court
proceedings against the big five
Chicago packers were Instituted ~
cause ~ had como to the time for a
show down In the Industry Attorne,
General Palmer today told the hoaae
agriculture committee. The attorney
general. appearing In connection with
pending regulatory legislation re-
viewed what he cnlled tho long cam
paisn against ihe industry In court
and before public opinion.
III seemed 20 me that tho thing
iiad come 10 a point where the pack
ers were either entitled 70 n clean hiii
ot health" Elid Mr.. Palmer. "or the
public was entitled to a JUDGMENT Of
some sort against them"
The consent decrae, finally arreed
upon after the son &rnment had In
Htituied suit, he aaid, was the result.
Tise divorcement eccree. Mr.. palm-
er said, met every Just complaint
that had been made By Consumers.
produeers or competitors. against tho
packers"
Most for People.
II met them b. n Judgment. with
means for enforcing H." the attorney
general continued. The managers
and influential stock holders In the
packing corporations can bo con-
vlctsd Of contempt OF conr, ana i'm
prisoned Tor any vfoiatlon of ia
terms This makes these five ereat
packers butchers and nothing else.
They are no longer n menace 10 the
food tables OF America with control
OF meat substitutes ana an other
Il got more for people by the civn
nnfI.aat 4
ing against them as criminnia No
business man ever had been sent 10
jail for violation OF the sherman act
In all It's history"
Il wanted TO accomplish five ihgnRa:
first--to take the packers out OF the
stock yard business. out Of the terml-
nal railroads which entered the stock
yards and out Of the livestock OF mar
ket publications and keep them out.
An detail the plan 10 worked out
20 that the dcfenuants themselves
may present a plan to dispose OF their
interests aud n that plan 4 not ap-
proved by the court. then a method
Is made by which tac court may fix
the plan. That h designed for the
purpose Of permitting its producers
themselves. II they desired. 10 be sub
stituted In the ownership Of the stock
yards and terminal railroads for the
packers
Other Things Accomplished.
Mr.. Palmer said the other things
he desired 90 accomplish were 90 take
the packers out OF the public storage
warehouse business, the retail hual-
ness and all the unrelated lines OF
business.
IAN these things insisted upon
and would not under any circum-
stances reced FROM" said he.
Mr.. Palmer said he had made no
suggestion 20 the packers as 70 what
his position would be with respect 10
future legislation by congress OF ilti-
gntlon by the government
MY personal view" he said. "is
that I would like to see this tried out.
l believe this rs a great long forward
step. believe we have gotten things
that we have been fighting for for
years, apparently without hope OF get
ting. ! think Il will be a great good.
] do not promise Il Is going 10 mean
immediate lowering OF priccs."
Committee members asked Mr.
Palmer whether the recent supreme
court coclaiOn IN the steel corporation
case would affect the decreee.
I'm thankful ! got this decree
signed up before that decision came
down from the supreme court Mr.
paifner said.
lie told the committee he had no
specific recommendations aH To the
OF the sherman anti
trust law but added
1T does seem that We are not able
to bring cases under II within the
judgment Of the supreme court and
| haven't quite the faith In the meas
ure I once haid."
This implied no criticism Of the
court, he explained.