THE BEEF TRUST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 849, 22 June 1910, Page 8

THE BEEF TRUST.

« . GOVERNMENT CONTINUES THE FIGHT. FURTHER SERIES OF CHARGES. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. ' New York June 20. Proceedings have been begun in Jefferson City to debar five meat packing companies from doing business in Missouri. The companies include Armours and Swifts. All are charged with conspiracy to control th© meat packing business in Missouri. STRONG FEELING IN AMERICA. There' are at present in Australia two' representatives of Swift and _ Co., the Chicago packing firm, which is believed to ■bo contemplating tho extension of its business to Australasia. The recent period of. high moat prices in the United States has aroused strong feeling against tho Beef Trust, and prosecutions were decided on early in the year, to ; the jubilation of the general public. Speaking in January last the United States Secretary for AcTiculturo said: "I am gathering proof now which will demonstrate that the food products of the American farm are being sold in foreign countries cheaper than in tho United States. ' This is not due to excess of production over consumption; it is duo to-trusts, just to trusts." In tho last few months a number -_ of prosecutions of the companies in the trust liavo been commenced. In April indictments were returned in Chicago by the Federal Grand Jury against the National Packing Company and ten subsidiary concerns, commonly known as the "Beef Trust." It was noted that the indictments were returned before Judge Kencsaw M. Landis. who imposed the ~£5,800,000 fino upon tho Standard Oil Company. The United States Government has also filed a suit in equity seeking the disso-. lutiou of the trust. The proceedings are being taken under the Sherman AntiTrust Act, which prohibits combinations in restriction of trade. Tho packers maintain that their combination is in furtherance of trade.