The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-02
ANTITRUST LAW.
Local Dealers Opinions On the
Recent Indictments.
The Illinois Dstilling ard Cattle-Feeding
Company Not a Trust-Big Money-A
Castiron Contract.

A special from Chicago appeared In yes
terday's CALL stating that the Federal
Grand Jury at Boston had indicted the Off
GERS of the Cattle-feeding and Distllling
Company (whisky trust fer violation Of
the Sherman antitrust law. The indict-
ments were found on February H. but the
fact was not generally known until Monday
OF this week, when warrants were served
upon the officers and Directors. President
Greenhut of Peoria, ILL.,, gave bail in S10,
COO to appear for trial in Boston next Mon
day, and. Peter j. Hennessey of Chicago.
Secretary and Director. did likewise.
With a view TO ascertaining the opinions
of representative local dealers as to the
above action a CALL reporter paid visit to
f. r. Lilienthal, head of the house Of that
name, at Front and Pine streets Mr.. Lii
ienthai was inclined to be communicative.
and received the reporter In genial man
ner. In reply To question he said:
1.-The Djstilling and Cattle-feeding Com
pany Chat is the proper title; it is wrong
in the dispatch is corporation organized
under the Illinois State laws, and is dis
timely cooperative and not a trust. There
fore. any action. if taken. would have to be
made through the proper State authorities.
deriving a corporate existence from the
commonwealth of Illinois. Consequently
the Federal officers have no authority 10 act
In the matter.
THE SHERMAN LAW.
= "In regard to California. / fail TO see
that il is desirable 10 take any action if
violations of the Sherman antitrust law
: are discovered, for the reason that the Dis
tiling and Cattle-feeding Company does
not control the spirits and alcohol business,
having, as a matter of fact. three competing
distilleries ON the Pacific Coast, aud the
company can hardly be considered a COM
bination or corporation detrimental to pub
lie interests"
c. Jost of the distiling firm of c. JoSt &
Son, 306 Clay street, was next seen. He
said:
.Eentracts are in existence to bind pur-
.chaseEs 10 buy from the trust, ard no one
else. The Indictments Will fall through.
These officers and Directors are pretty
sharp men-they are 10 different from the
rest Of uS--they want to make all tie money
they can. / don't think they have violated
the law. ] consider The whole affair great
sensation. There is no question OF big
money in the trust. It's tough on US, but
we can't help ourselves. The trade is pay
ing from 81 l6 to 81 is per gallon Of spirits
Same as whisky. tax Included, which is
. three times the actual cost of spirits
about So 00O, 900 are tied up by these con-
tracts. which are good for six months. If
: purchases are made from the trust rebate
Is gven;-E from dealers outside We get
nothing.
II the Id w Is 6uIOICtu tfSTh distributing
agent in the United States, those Of San
Francisco included, is amenable for a viola
ton Of its provisions"
ONE OF THE CONTRACTS.
Mr.. Jost then produced one of the con-
tracts alluded to, which, as will readily be
sern, is Of a castir0n nature. Across the
face is printed. in large letters. Not nego-
table or transferable" The document,
Invested OF names and amounts, reads as
follows:
-, Feb u, 1892. No.
Subject 10 the conditions named herein. and
for the purpose OF securing the continuous
patronage OF the within named purchaser The
successors and assigns OF the same for lis prod
ects, the DistlllDg and Cattle feeding Company,
SIX months from the date Of this purchase
voucher, Will pay TO - of -, purchasers, -
dollars being rebate of c DTS per proof gall
Ion on = proof gallons of the Di>tlIling and
Csttl feeding Company's product purchased this
day This voucher Will be valid and payable only
the successors and assigns OF TIE same, from The
date OF this voucher 10 the time of its payment,
. snail have bought their supply OF such kinds of
Geods as are produced by tue DistillIug aud
Cattle feeding Company, and all compounds
thereof, exclusively Of one or more Of The deal
eTs pam on tn back hereof, until further
notified. aud shall also have subscribed to the
ceftiDcaie on the back hereof.
DiStlng and Catile-feedinE Company,
By j. b. Gieenbut, President
" hen due forward TO the German American
National Bank of Peoria, H. where this voucher
Ia payable without exchange OF other charge