United States v. American Livestock Commission Co., 279 U.S. 435 (1929)

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United States v. American Livestock Commission Company


No. 513


Argued March 5, 1929
Decided May 20, 1929
279 U.S. 435

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA

Syllabus

1. A boycott of one by others of the dealers or market agencies on a livestock exchange may be an unfair practice within the meaning of the Packers & Stockyards Act. P. 436.

2. Though part of the dealings of a duly registered cooperative market agency may have been ultra vires, the maintenance of a general boycott against it on this account by other associations is not justified, and, under the Packers and Stockyards Act, the Secretary of Agriculture has authority to order the discontinuance of the discriminatory practice, to the extent, at least, that it applied to the legitimate business of the complainant. P. 437.

3. A cooperative association organized under the state laws and found by the Secretary of Agriculture to be duly registered as a market agency under the Packers & Stockyards Act is within the protection of that Act notwithstanding that its powers are limited to the handling of the livestock of it members. P. 438.

28 F.2d 63 reversed.

Appeal by the United States from a decree of a district court of three judges which granted an injunction restraining the enforcement of an order of the Secretary of Agriculture requiring the discontinuance by respondents of a boycott of the Producers Commission Association at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.