The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-12-25
Plumbing People
Lay Down To
The Law.
u. S. ATTORNEY
BAIRD WAS READY
Illegal Agreements NuIIified by
Those Who Had Signed
Them.

Fearing the law the plumbing trust
II dissolved. Several days ago United
states District Attorney Baird got
word from Attorney General Griggs at
Washington To proceed against all
combinations In restraint of trade. This
was all that Baird had waited for. He
went to the heads OF the plumbing
trust. informed them of what he pro-
posed 10 do. and the trust threw up it's
hands. The fight made by the Adver-
tlser for the people against the illegal
and highwayman combine. Is won.
Some months ago u was brought TO
the notice Of the Advertiser that there
was an agreement between the sellers
os plumbing material In Honolulu. the
employing plumbers and the working
plumbers. by which the sellers could
not sell cents worth Of plumbing ma
terial 10 any one other than an en-
ploying plumber. and by which the
master plumber could employ none but
"a member of the Journeyman's Plumb
er's union.
The Advertiser proved that II was
impossible for householders who had
even small repairs To make TO buy
plumbing material and that the plumb
ling shops of the city. banded together
for mutual welfare. were charging ex-
.tortionate prices for Jobs.
Dozens OF bills rendered to house
holders by the plumbing shops and
whose Items showed plainly the extrav-
agant charges. were published with the
statements OF the householders as To
the quality Of the work done. IL was
made apparent that Honolulu was
paying for its plumbing twice or three
} times as much as u should have paid
and that there was no recourse as all
: the plumbers were In the trust.
The Advertiser went cautiously and
carefully about the work OF gathering
the facts and figures Of the combine
and looked up the law. II was found
: that the trust was unlawful and thai
: under the statutes of the United States
!: every member 81 ~ was liable TO tn,
courts for his actions.
The trust was disposed To be obstin
ate and liked little its exposure. Unit
ed states District Attorney Baird
= reading the Advertiser. began an In
vestisatlon on his own hook and dis
a co, cred Immediately enough evidence
N against the trus; To cause him TO sem
a to the Attorney General at Washing
, ton for instructions and authority.
MI bNlFu W1N blibNHNth W hh' -
10 torney General that II was his duty &
proceed at once against all trusts Il
= restraint OF trade. Mr.. Baird sum
moned the leaders Of the maste
4 plumbers association and pointed on
:. 10 them In their bylaws and agree
ments wherein they violated the Law
:, He was assured that those spoken wit
had not realized that they were defy
}. ing the law and that they would a
G. once get within it's pale. IL was IN
: same with the Journeyman Plumber
va Association. The bylaws and agree
y nents were repealed and changed $
that they no longer were In restraint
= trade.
- In the case of merchants here VII
~ had some months ago entered into a
agreement among themselves directe
- against drummers from the Mainlan
Mr.. Baird was informed that the ass'
". citation would dissolve. and that as
or matter of fact. N had not for mar
'' weeks operated.
Mr. Baird says that " will be In
possible for the plumbing trust to cot
=. tlnue In Honolulu. Rumors that q
.. trust was stiii active. sub-rosa.
Baird says cannot be true. as II wou
he n very serious matter for the tru
to use any subterfuge to evade q
- - limited states statutes.