Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1908 — SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST THE PACKERS [ARTICLE]

SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST THE PACKERS

ARMOUR, -SWIFT, MORRIS AND CUDAHY HIT IN NEW REBATE DECISION. Move Against Railroads by Lower Tribunal Is Also Sustained—Justice Brewer Dissents, Declaring It Shocks His Sense of Justice. Washington, Mar. 17. —The proceeding by the government against the Armour Packing Company, Swift & Co., Morris & Co., and the Cudahy Packing Co., all of them operating in Kansas City, Kan., under which the companies were each fined $15,000 by the United States circuit court for the western district of Missouri, on the charge of receiving rebates contrary to the provisions of the TSlklns act, was decided by the supreme court of the United States Monday adversely to those companies. The court’s opinion was announced by* Justice Day, who held that the Elkins act is applicable to transportation anywhere and that an offense Is not confined to the initial point He also held it Applicable alike to shipper and carHer. Lower Court Decision Affirmed. The decision of the lower courts In the complementary case against the Chicago, Burlington ft Quincy railway company holding that company responsible for granting the rebates to the packers and fining that company for the offense also was affirmed. Justice Brewer dissented from the ▼lew of the court on the ground that the decision would work a violation of contract “which,” he said, “shocks his sense of justice.” The chief Justice and Justice Peckham concurred in Justice Brewer’s decision. They also held the Missouri oourt to be without jurisdiction. Receipt of Rebates Charged. Kansas City, Mar. 17. —The four packing companies mentioned in the Washington dispatch were convicted In the United States district court of receiving concessions on export shipments of packing house products, and fined by Judge Smith McPherson here on June 22, 1906. At the same time the Chicago, Burlington ft Quincy railroad company was fined $15,000 for granting concessions, and George L. Thomas of New York, a freight broker, and L. B. Taggart, his clerk, were fined and given jail sentences for conspiring to receive concessions from railroads.