The Washington times., 1906-07-06
Grand Jury Investigating
Business Methods of
the American
Company.
INDICTMENT OF TWO
CONCERNS LOOKED FOR
Iceman Downs Resigns as
Foreman OF Jury on Re-
quest of the District
Attorney.

The legal battle to show that he
American Ice Company is & trust
and a combination in restraint OF
the local ice trade is on in earnest.
An Indictment against the com
pany, and possibly against another
concern dealing in ice in this city,
is expected from the grand jury
within the next few days.
Testimony VIII be taken by the
grand jury next Monday in the mat
ter, the greater part Of the evt-
dence coming from the dealers and
smaller ice companies in the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Presumably the evidence win tend
10 show that the American lee
Company and another concern II Sde
some sort of an agreement TO raise
the wholesale price OF ic. from 20
or % cents a hundred to 25 cents
a hundred, and to keep the fanny
trade price at the original figure
Of 40 cents a hundred, the cOlsteD-
ton being that such a step S,zz a
measure to cripple the smaller Ice
dealers and peddlers and to restrain
their business.
Mr.. Downs Quits Grand Jury.
Edwin il. Downs. connected with he
American Ice Company, resigned hls
s ra4. Ts.~- Of
grand jury, and the report was publ lsh-
ed that he did so voluntarily because ne
thought the jury might turn its a. en-
tion 10 the ice situation in Washington
As a matter Of fact. the Attorney Gen
eral. who has had the matter under ID
visemeuL for some weeks. yesterday
made uD his mind that there was ground
for proceeding against the American Ice
Company.
Accordingly, =. directed District At
tOrney Baker 20 take such action with
a view 10 securing indictments by tie
grand Jury. Following these directions
the District Attorneys Office, IL IS un-
derstood, gave Mr.. Downs TO understand
that It would be inappropriate for him 10
act as foreman on jury whose busi-
ness IL IS 10 rua down the charges
against the company for which he is
working. HIS resignation followed as
matter of course.
Both AIr. Downs and other officials OF
the company. when seen by a reporter
for The Times today. refused al solutelS
to discuss the matter. ContentIng ISem-
selves with the statement that hey
have nothing to fear, that they he
done nothing TO cripple or rest in
trade. and that they can see no possible
reason for any proceedings against ne
company.
Questioned by District Attorney
From other sources IT was Iaar5sd.
however, that Immediately following his
resignation as foreman OF tie S:zand
turv. Mr.. Downs was put through a
series Of questions by the District A.
torney's Office regarding the American
Ice Company's dealings. It is not known
whether he answered the questions put
TO him OF whether he availed himself OF
the legal privilege OF remaining silent
concerning the matter at the present
time.
According 70 reliable information, the
proceeding OF the grand jury. OF the
District Attorneys Office, in this case
will be as follows:
To show that on a specified occasion
representatives, or one representative.
Of the American Ice Company, and
representative, or representatives, OF an
other local ice company met and reach
ed a tacit agreement 10 put the whole
sale price of fee at 25 cents q. hundred
instead OF at 20 o. 2 cents a hundred
To show that at the same time II was
verbally understood between those pres
ent that the family price should remain
at 40 cents a hundred. as II had been
In the past.
To prove. by the testimony Of smaller
dealers, that this step could have only
the effect Of crippling the smaller deal
ers and subjecting them TO severe losses
because they had. under the agreement.
TO pay from 20 5 cents more hun-
dred pounds for their product and yet
wera Obliged 10 sell it as cheaply as
they had ever done
To further prove this Increase In tie
wholesale price by testimony from such
wholesale purchasers as druggists ana
/ ice cream manufa cturers.
| To demonstrate that this did inJuTe the
Continued on Page EleVen.)