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Show ipalwier supports packer regulations t Time Has Come for 'Big Five' Showdown in Campaign Against Them in Court WASHINGTON", April 2. Court proceedings against the "big fivo" Chicago packers were Instituted bu-causc bu-causc "It had come to be' time for j. showdown In the Industry," Attornoy General Palmer today told the house agricultural committee. The attoi-ney attoi-ney general, supporting packer regulation regu-lation legislation, reviewed what he called the long campaign against the .Industry in court and beforo public opinion. "It seemed to me that tho thlnj; had come to a point where tho packers were cither entitled to a clean bill of health," said Mr. Palmer, "or tho public pub-lic was entitled to a judgment of oor.;t-sort oor.;t-sort -against them." Tho consent decree, finally agreed upon after the government had Instituted Insti-tuted suit, he said, was tho resuu. The divorcement decree, Mr. Palmci said, "met every just complaint thirc had been made by consumers, producers pro-ducers or competitors, against the va'ckers." JUDGMENT FOR ENFORCING. "It met them by a Judgment with means for enforcing It," the attorney general continued. "The managers and Influential stockholders In the packing corporations can be convicted of contempt of court and Imprisoned Tor any violation of Its terms. Th.s makes these five great packers but-n- ers and nothing else. They aro r.o longer a menace to the food tables o' America with control of meat substitutes substi-tutes and all other foods. "I got more for people by the civil action that I ever could by proceed ings against them as criminals. Nj business man ever has boon sent to jail for violation of the Sherman ait In all its history. "I wanted to accomplish five Ihm&s. Tirst, to take the packers out of cu stockyards business, out of the terrui-nal terrui-nal railroads which entered the s;cck-yards. s;cck-yards. and out of the llvcstoak or . market publications, and keep them out. I PLAN WOIIKEI) OUT. "In detail, the plan is worked out j so that the defendants themselves may present a plan to dispose of their interests, and if that plan is. not .ip-proved .ip-proved by the court, then a metnod is made by which the court may fix tho plan. That is designed for zv.c purpose of permitting tho produce.".", If thoy desired, to be substituted In j the ownership of tho stockyards aud I terminal railroads for the packers." j Mr. Palmer said tho other tnings I j he desired lo accomplish were to take the packers out of the public stii;:ci warehouse business, tho retail busl-1 I ness and all the unrelated lines of business. "All those things I insisted upon j and would not under any clrcum- stances recede from," said he. I Mr. Palmer said he had made no I suggestion to the packers as lo what I his position would be with respect to futuro legislation by congress or Hti-I Hti-I gation by the government. "My personal view." he said, ' is that I would like to sec this tried out. I believe this Is a great long step forward. for-ward. I think it will do a great gooci. I do not pror.'ise It is going to menu Immediate'' lowering of prices.' |