The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-07-19
TO CRUSH The
TOBACCO TRUSTS
Suit Already Begun in New
York Federal Court.
Nine Companies and Ten lndivid-
ualS Named as De-
PENDANTS.

Inc government on wednesday vi
last week filed in the United States
Circuit Court in the city of New York
a petition against the American To-
bacco Company, the Imperial Tobac-
co Company, the British-American
Tobacco Company, the American Snuff
Company, the American Cigar Com
pany, the American Storgie Company
pany, the American Stognie Company
the Corley Foil Company and fifty
six other corporations and twenty
nine individuals connected with the
named companies.
These companies 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 trust by breaking up the agree
ments under which the consolidated
concerns are working. In showing the
growth of the trust" since It's or
ganization in 1890, the conclusion is
reached that at an early day, unless
prevented it would completely mono
police the entire tobacco industry.
That all of the defendants are en-
gagged in Interstate and foreign trade
and commerce in hte tobacco and
products manufactured therefOrm Is
alleged by the petition. 1t is stated
that the act of July 2, 1890, Ito pro-
tect trade and commerce" and sub
sequent acts, have been violated and
the Government therefore seeks to
prevent and restrain the unlawful ex-
listing agreements, combinations and
conspiracies and attempts to mono
police, and break up perfected mono
poles.
The Government asks that the ex-
listing combinations, conspiracies and
monopolies be enjoined. and that each
of the defendant companies be re-
strained from holding or controlling
stock in any other. II is asked furth-
er that the Imperial Tobacco Com
pany be enjoined from doing business
within the Jurisdiction of the United
States until 1t shall have ceased to
observe the terms of its agreement
with American companies; that GER
tain of the defendants be declared
combinations in restraint of trade and
be enjoined from engaging in inter-
state and foreign trade and COM
merce, or that a receiver be appoint
ed to take charge of their affairs and
administer them SO as to bring about
conditions in harmony with the law.
The organization of the tobacco
trust, according TO the petition, dates
from the formation of the American
Tobacco Company in 1890 to acquire
five existing cigarette manufacturers
with Joint assets much less than $780,
OOO, 900 and an annual consumption OF
leaf under 100000 pounds.
The allegation is made that tho
members OF the combination have di'
vided up the tobacco business of the
world, assigning each to some special
territory for unmolested exploitation
It is declared that the consolidated
corporations annually purchase 475,
100000 pounds of domestic leaf an6
of the total produced in the United
States, Manufacture, sell and distrib
ute more than 2S0,000,00O pounds 81
per cent. of the smoking and plus
tobacco; 95 per cent, Of the snuff, 81
per cent. of the cigarettes, 10 pei
cent. of the small cigars, 50 per cent
of the licorice products, so per cent
of the tin foil products and 10 to II
per cent. of the cigars and stogies
that they are rapidly acquiring con
troll of the ordinary agencies-1ob
bers, wholesalers and retailers
through which tobacco products arr
distributed.
OF the total annual production o
domestic tobacco, estimated at 500,
100000 pounds, rs per cent. is pur
chased by the American Tobacco Com
pany and it's associates and its allie
at prices which the Government al
leges to be unlawfully influenced b!
the combination. 1t is said that thi
is in defiance of the usual laws o
trade .~sahere open competition by man
separate and Independent concerns CO.
troll the price.
After reeiting the bitter trade wa
between American and England con
Germs, the petition shows how tn
combinations in the countries, weary
ing of competition in 1902 entered in
to written agreements each not to in
terfere with the other along certain
Iii a.si.sa linaa and fopef her form