The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-07-11
AFTER TOBACCONISTS.
Government Institutes Action at
New York CITY.

New YORK. July 1.-THE govern
ment has filed in the United States
circuit court here a petition against
the American Tobacco company. I'm,
perial Tobacco company, British
American Tobacco company Amerl-
can Snuff company. American Cigar
company, United Cigar Stores com
pany. American Stogie company
MacAndrews e. Forbes company. Cor
ley-Foil company and fifty-six other
corporations and twenty individ-
uals connected with named companies.
These corporations and individuals
constitute what is generally known as
the Tobacco Trust" and the petition
directed against them sets forth the
purpose OF the government to dissolve
this alleged trust by breaking up
agreements under which consolidated
concerns are working.
In showing the growth of the
trust since It's organization in 1890
the conclusion Is reached that at an
early date unless prevented. 1t will
completely monopolize the entire to.
bacco industry; that all defendants
are engaged in interstate and foreign
trade and commerce in tobacco and
products manufactured therefrom, it
Is alleged by the petition 1t is stated
that the act of July 2, 1890, ito protect
trade and commerce" and subsequent
acts have been violated, and the gov.
eminent therefore. seeks to prevent
and restrain unlawful existing agree.
ments, combinations and conspiracies
and attempts to monopolize and break
up perfected monopolies. The gov
eminent asks that existing combina
tons, cOnspiraeies and monopolies be
enjoined and each defendant company
be restrained from holding Or CONTROL
ing stock in any other
1t asks further that the Imperial To-
bacco company be enjoined from do
ing business within the jurisdiction Of
the United States until 1t shall have
ceased to observe the terms of it's
agreement with American companies;
that certain defendants be declared
combinations In restraint of trade and
be enjoined from engaging in inter
state and foreign trade or commerce,
and that a receiver be appointed to
take charge of their affairs and ad-
minister them SO as to bring about
conditions in harmony with law. The
petition shows total assets now exceed
$275, GOO 900
The allegation Is made that mem
bers of the combination divided up the
tobacco business of the world, assign
ing some special territory for unmo
Tested exploitation 1t is declared the
consolidated corporations annually
purchase 475,O00,000 pounds of domes-
tic leaf and the total produced in the
United States and manufacture, sell
and distribute more than 2SO.000,0
pounds $50 per cent? of smoking and
plug tobacco. IS per cent of snuff, 80
per cent of cigarettes, Is per cent
small cigars. IS per cent of licorice
products, 80 per cent of tin foil pro
ducts, and 10 to Is per cent of cigars
and stOgfes Of the total annual pro
duction of domestic tobacco, estimat-
ed at 00.0O0.00O pounds, Is per cent
purchased by the American Tobacco
company and associates and allies at
prices which the government alleges
to be unlawfully influenced by the
combination 1t Is said this is in de-
fiance of the laws Of the trade, where
open competition by several separate
and Independent concerns control
DriceS