Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-10
AFTER TRUSTS
Government To-Day Filed a Num- Der of Petitions Against the
 Grant Tobacco Trust
WANTS IT DISSOLVED

New York, July 10.-The govern ment to-day filed in the Emitted States circuit court in this city petition against the American Tobacco com- pany, the Imperial Tobacco company, the British-American Tobacco com pany, the American Shuf1 company, the American Cigar company, the United Cigar Stores company, the American Stogie company, the Mac Andrews X Forbes company, the Con ley Foil company, and fifty-six other corporations and % individuals con- nected with the named companies, Those 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 trust by breaking up the agree ments under which the consolidated "o.perns are working. In showing tho growth of the trust" since it's or ganization in 1890, the conclusion is reached that at an early day, unless prevented, 1t would completely mon opoize the entire tobacco industry.
 That all of the defendants are ea- gagged ill interstate and foreign trade and commerce in leaf tobacco and products manufactured tnerefrom, is alleged by the petition. It is stated that the act of July ?, 1850, ito pro- tect trade and commerce" and subse- quent acts have been violated and the government therefore seeks to prevent and restrain the unlawful existing agreements, combinations and con- spiracies and attempts to monopolize and break up perfected monopolies. The government asks that the exist ing combinations and monopolies be enjoined, and that each or the defend and companies be restrained from holding or controlling stock in any cther. It is asked further that ne Imperial Tobacco company be en- joined from doing bushes within the jurisdiction of the United, States until 1t shall cease to observe the terms of its agreement with the American com panies: that certain of the defendants be declared combinations in restraint of trade and be enjoined from engag- ing in Interstate and fnreiga trade and commerce, or that q receiver be appointed to take charge of their af- fairs and administer them so as 10 braing about conditions m 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 competing cigarette manufactur- CTS, with joint assets much less than $25 100000 and an annual. consump- ton of leaf under fifteen million pounds. The petition shows that sub gcGrent history, developnr1. i,5 growth of that company until it's total assets new exceed s2I5.000.000 and likewise the origin and manipula- ton of scores of created, acquired and oul rolled corporations utili1"l as agencies to accomplish the general de- sign; the progressive absorption and elimination of competitors and de struction of formidable opposition: and the entry by defendants Into various departments of manufacture and trade, domestic and foreign. into to- bacco products with intent to moiIo- polize.
 Tn allegation Is made that the members of the combination have divided up the tobacco business ot the world, assigning to some special territory for unmolested exploitation. It is declared that the consolidated corporations annually purchase 415,- GOO 900 pounds of domestic leaf, and of the total produced in the United States manufacture. sell and distri- bute more than 2S0.000. 900 pounds (S0 per cent ofthe smoking and plug tobacco, 95 per cent of the snuff. so per cent of the cigarettes. 75 per cent of the small cigars. 95 per cent of the licorice products, so per cent of the tin foil products and 10 to l5 per cent of the cigars and stogies; that they are rapidly acquiring control of the ordinary ageneies--iobbers.