Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1903 — FINDS A COMBINE. [ARTICLE]

FINDS A COMBINE.

Coart Decides that Reef Packers Are in Unlawful Combine. Judge Grosseup nt Chicago Wednesday overruled the demurrer of the defendant packers to the allegations made against them by the federal government In the famous “beef trust” cases. l*y this decision the injunction against further operation of the combination is made permanent. Judge Grosscup’s decision establishes that the operations of the packers in the buying of live stock and the reselling ns fresh meat constitutes interstate commerce. It sustains the government's position in every detail, and if it is finally approved by the Supreme Court it means not only the dissolution of the alleged t rust, but of all of the other large combinations acting along similar lines. The court briefly summarized the allegations in the government's bill in the following: That the defendants combined and conspired to refrain from bidding for live stock in order to hammer down prices to the producer. That they bid up prices for n few days to influence large shipments to the stockyards and then refrained from bidding, thereby again depressing prices. That they arbitrarily raised and lowered prices and maintained uniform prices by secret agreement, curtailed shipments. Imposed penalties for price deviations and kept “blacklists-'' of dcllimoeitt dealers. That they Imposed Illegal and expensive cartage charges on dealers and consumers. That they received and divided among themselves illegal rebates from railroads carrying their goods. That they attempted to obtain a monopoly of I lie supply and distribution of dressed meats. The government's definition is coincided with by the court in these pivotal points: Commerce is not restricted to specific acts of sale or exchange. It includes the intercourse—all the initiatory and Intervening nets. Instrumentalities and dealings—that directly bring about the Sale or exchange. The underlying test (of interstate commerce) is that ttie transaction ns an entirety, Including each part calculated to bring about the result, reaches into two or more States, and Hint the parties dealing with reference thereto deal from different States. What may be called the body of these transactions (Interstate commerce In meats) Is twofold. It reaches back to the purchase of cattle that come to defendants from States other than those In which defendants manufacture, and It reaches forward to the sale of the meats after conversion to parties dealing with respect thereto from other States, followed by shipments into tlie other States. It may be true that the way of enforcing any decree under this petition is beset with difficulties ami that a literal enforcement may result in vexatious interference with defendants' affairs, bur In the inquiry before me I am not at liberty to stop before such considerations. Ttie Sherman act, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, Is the law of the land, and to the law ns it stands both court and people must yield obedience.