The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-05
SEVEN INDICTMENTS.
Returned Against Railroads and Sugar
Trust.


New York. May 5.-The April fed
eral grand jury in concluding its labors
handed down seven sealed indictments
in the sugar rebating cases. The in
dictments are against the following:
The New York Central railroad; the
American Sugar Refining company;
the New York Central. & Hudson Riv-
er Railroad company and Nathan
I Guilfords vice president of the com
pany; the American Sugar Refining
company Of New York and c. GOOdIee
Edgar and Edwin Earle. the latter two
being wholesale sugar dealers of De
troit Mich.
The New York Central & Hudson
River Railroad company and Nathan
iGuilford, vice president and F. L.
Eomeroy, general traffic manager.
The American Sugar Refining COM
pany and the American Sugar Rein
ing company of New York and c.
Goodlee Edgar and Edwin Earle
Nathan GuilfOrd F. L. POmerOv c.
Goodlee Edgar and Edwin Earle
The first six indictments were found
under the Elkins antitrust law
which provides penalties of a fine not
exceeding $4,000, or imprisonment
granting. applying for, or accepting
any rebate or concession from the
regular freight rates, as published by
a railway company as a common car
rier.
Fhe seventh Indictment found
against Guilford, Pomeroy, Edgar and
: Earle, charges them with Ilving col
lectively conspired to violate the pro-
visions of the Elkins antitrust law.
These are the first indictments for an
alleged violation of the antitrust law
found in this district Sixteen sessions
of the April grand jury were devoted
exclusively to the consideration Of these
eases, but it is evident from the pre-
sentiment which the f1I7-4T n ~,
With the indictments that it deems the
situation but hurriedly canvassed
1t recommends that the investigat
be continued by its successor. intimat-
ing that indications point to the posi-
bflity that other common carriers NAV
be equally culpable with the indicted
roads.
The presentment. addressed to Cir
cult Judge George c. Holt. stated that
the grand jury deemed il proper to call
attention to the gravity of the evils in
cident to the violation of the interstate
commerce laws, which have been prac-
ticed IN respect to merchandise trans
ported from New York city to various
points in the west. The presentment
refers to the large amount of evidence
considered, and the necessity of "pene-
trating various skilful DISCUSSES" used
in transacting through freight bust
ness and continues
But the evidence investigated by
US bearing upon the indictments which
we nave found has incidentally re-
vealed to you the probable existence
Of so many other instances of similar
offenses as to indicate a general and
systematic policy. pursued by certain
large shippers, of extorting from the
different railroad companies favors the
legality of which is a least question
able. The evidence before US has re
lated mainly to shipments Of sugar
from various refneries in this locality
to western markets In addition to
cases in which indictments have been
handed down. the evidence has indi-
stated that rebates have been reg
ularly given to sugar rehners and
their customers by several other In
Gsrstate lines; that regular allow
ance Of two cents per hundred pounds
has been made by various railroad
companies to sugar rehners to cover
alleged carriage, an allowance which
though usually published in the tar
fffs, often represents no labor actually
performed and which is not made to
other shippers Of similar commOdi-
ties; and that other special favors Oh
various kinds have been regularly
made IN regard to sugar shipments
either TO the Eedners themselves or ia