New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-31
CHARGED WITH BEING 4 TRtST
ALLEGATIONS THAT -FOUR CHICAGO GAS COM
PANIEs HAVE VIOLATED THE LAW RELA-
TIVE TO MONOPOLIES.

ALLEGATIONS THAT -FOUR CHICAGO GAS COM
PAN1Es HAVE VIOLATED THE LAW RELA-
TIVE TO MONOPOIIEs
Chicago. Jan. SO-"The Herald" this morning
SAYS: "Quo warranto proceedings viii be begun I'M
medlatey by Attorney General Mcloney aS2ins; the
Chicago Gaslight and Coke Company for the Tor
feiture of its charter under the Antitrust law OF
the State of Illinois enacted in 1891 The informa
ton has been prepared. and is ready for fling IN
court, 1t forms a volumnous document. II cites
the circumstances of the organization. respectively
of the Chicago Gas,ight and Coke Company, the
Peoples Gasight and Coke Company the Consum-
ers' Gas Company and the Equitable Gaslight and
Fuel Company and the formation OF these four into
the Chicago Gas Company, which was finally ana
completely effected in April, 1881
THE document then goes on TO recite how. IN
June 1855 quo warrano Procesdngs were In
Supreme Court decision against the trust TO me
Chicago Gas Trust Company was contrary TO law
and against the public policy OF the STATE OF IN
changed its name to the Chicago Gas Company, and
in April 1884, surrendered its charter and appointed
a committee to wind W. its affairs After this, 1t
is charged. the said Chicago Gas Company made
an arrangement by which the shares OF stock OF
remain in the control Of the Fidelity Insurance
Trust and Safe Deposit Company of Philadelphia as
trustee. and that said company was authorize 70
issue certificates in exchange for those OF the SAID
Chicago Gas S0mpany me rhdad 1s ~ d.
rectors of the said fourvgas compan.es, ana ~, 'ne
companies
rectors, together with agents, attorneys and en-
ployes in common.
'in substantiation Of this last allegation, lists Of
the directors of the four gas companies are given.
The list of each company includes the names OF
George o. Knapp. c. K g. Billings AMI T. J. Jerz
manowski. These three constitute the entire board
OF the Equitable Gaslight and Fuel Company. The
Peoples. IN addition has on It's board, +. C. Bene-
dict and one of the attorneys acting for each Of
the four companies. The Consumers board Of nine
directors includes. besides Knapp, Billings. Jerz-
manowski and Benedict. three employees and TWO Of
the attorneys in service Of all four Of the com
panies. The Chicago Gaslight and Coke Company
board OF eleven includes. besides the four
just given. those OF three attorneys and three EN-
ployes and agents Of all four gas companies"
Attorney General Mooney said this afternoon that
a petition had been presented TO him by citizens Of
Chicago. asking him to begin proceedings against
the gas companies the ground that they
trust and doing Illegal business but IL did
not follow by any means that such suit would be
Instituted There is truth In the report that
have filed an Information against the companies"
said he. nor Is there any foundation for the re-
port that intend to do so. Whether I will DO
or not Is entirely another matter. At present |
will say that do not know the facts in the case.
and before taking any steps in the matter / shall
investigate Il thoroughly