Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-07-12
SUIT AGAINST REAPER TRUST
Rodney B. Swift, a stOokhOlder, Files a
Bill for an Accounting,
WANTS VOTING TRUST SET ASIDE
Complaint Alleges that Company Ac-
cepted illegal Rebates from
Railroads Amounting to
Five Millions.

CHICAGO, July u.-Another attack was
made this afternoon upon the Interna-
tional Harvester company by Rodney b.
Swift, formerly head of the experimental
department of the Mccormick branch of
the harvester company. Swifts copnec-
ton with the company was severed several
months ago and suit commenced against
him by the officials of the company, who
alleged that he-had defrauded them in the
sale Of a patent In his bill filed this after
noon, Swift, as a stakeholder, demands an
accounting from the company and demands
that the court force the company to cease
taking rebates from railroad companies
and also compel the company to return to
the railroads moneys, said by Swift to have
been Illegally exacted from the railroads
in the past Swift declares that up to
September 90 1902 the Mccormick branch
Of the harvester company alone forced the
railroads to pay It through rebates and
the operation of the Illinois Northern road
a sum in excess Of 100000. Up to the
same date, the money received in rebates
by the Plano branch of the harvester
company through the agency OF the Chi
cago, West Pullman & Southern railroad
amounted to 100000
Since September 80 1902 II Is declared
that nine other railroad companies have
been making payments Of rebates TO the
International HarvesSr company under
the guse OF an alleged division Of freight
rates with the Illinois Northern company.
Swift asserts that the alleged illegal re-
bates made to the international company
since 1902 amount to more than N,0OO,O0O
Details of Organization.
Swift goes into the details of the or
ganization of the International Harvester
company, declaring that shortly after its
formation an arrangement was made be-
tween President Cyrus II. Mccormick,
Charles Deerlng, George w. Perkins and
William c. Lane to the effect that all
the stock of the international company
should be put in the charge of the first
three men as trustees for voting purposes
until 1902. Swift demands that the voting
agreement be terminated by the court. 1t
is further declared in the bill that the
business of the International Harvester
company Is of an extremely profitable ma
ture. He asserts that harvesting ma
chimes can be produced and delivered by
the company for $751; The company re-
ceives Ss5 for them from agents, who in
turn, sell them for S125.
Swift says that all his demands for an
examination OF the company's books have
1t is further declared that the unlawful
course Of the directors of the corporation
has damaged the harvester company to the
extent Of 100000, which amount Swift
| demands that the directors pay to the
company.
Demands of Injunction.
The injunction demanded by Swift asks
that the court prevent the purchase by
the company of any manufacturing plants
| when the purpose OF the purchase is in
whole or In part the suppression of com
petition; use of any money or property by
the international Harvester company for
the defeat of the enactment of any law
by any legislative body in the United
States or elsewhere, or for corrupty in
fuencing elections, or the work of taxing
| bodies; combination with the Plymouth
| Cordage company for monopoly of the
| binder Irvine trade of the United States.
| No time has been set for the hearing