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Show U.S. SETTLEMENT TO Bill GOOD RESULTS Government Surrendered No Rights and Eliminated Packers Pack-ers From Monopoly WASHINGTON, Jan. 8. More was accomplished through the government's govern-ment's settlement of its antl-trust proceedings pro-ceedings against the five big Chicago meat packers than could havo resulted from a court decision adverse to the packers, Attorney General Palmer told the senate agricultural committee yesterday. yes-terday. Tho government, the attorney general gen-eral declared, surrendered no rights to a further prosecution of the packers, eliminated the packers from the conduct con-duct of industries not directly related to meat packing, and does not at present pres-ent contemplato further proceedings, either civil or criminal as the "cases against them have been won." Palmer denies Morris Charges There were a fow sharp Interchanges between Mr. Palmer and committee members during his appearance. Tho suggestion of Senator Norris, Republican, Repub-lican, Nebraska, that criminal counts against the packers, past and prospective prospect-ive had been "forgiven" by the agreement agree-ment brought a flat denial. Senator Grance, Republican, Maryland, Mary-land, intimated that by bringing civil and not criminal proceedings against tho packers the, department of justice had "laid Itself open to the charge o failing to prosecute multi-millionaires while its agents had been spying upon members of labor unions and making summary arrests." "It doesnt 'lay In the mouth of any man, high or low, to say that tho attorney at-torney general of the United States is a( respector of persons," retorted Mr. Palmer, his ire plainly aroused. He added that he had brought civil complaints com-plaints against tho packers exactly as he had brought civil complaints against the miners' union during the recent coal strike. Commenting on the general effects of tho agreement, Mr. Palmer said he saw no hope of immediate lowering of food prices by reason of it. "There is much weight in the argument argu-ment that these large concerns secure greater efficiency and consequent low-lering low-lering of interests," he continued. "But if so, it is tho efficiency of autocracy. We shall have to depend on gaining results re-sults in this direction from the competition com-petition between smaller units and If they are not obtained, then our whole theory of efficiency gained by democratic demo-cratic competition is wrong." History of Prosecution Recounting for tho first time tho immediate im-mediate history of the prosecution against the packers, Mr Palmer said that while a Chicago grand jury was considering the government's evidence, Robert J. Dunham, vice president of Armour and company, had opened nc-gotiatinos nc-gotiatinos for the settlement after he had informed tho packers that if they desired to come with the Idea of surrendering sur-rendering to the government and would state how far they were willing to go in complying with certain requirements re-quirements b'i the government, he would bo willing to nie their1 representatives. repre-sentatives. Packers Agree to Court Decree In the settlement that resulted, he 'said, the packers agreed to accept a I court decree perpetually enjoining them from monopolistic or other unlawful un-lawful trade practices, from engaging in the wholesale grocery and other businesses not directly in their line and from control of stockyards and stockyard terminal railroads. 'The government gov-ernment had not Insisted that they relinquish re-linquish poultry, egg and cheese distribution, dis-tribution, he said, believing that there was economic advantage in their system sys-tem of handling these products in refrigeration re-frigeration along with meat products. Sessions of tho committee will be continued, Chairman Gronna announced. an-nounced. 00 I |