The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-09-15
STEAMSHIP MEN PAY REBATES
Charges Preferred Against Trans-At-
lantic Companies.

Charges Preferred Against Transact
lantic Companies.
Washington, Sept. 13.-In official
circles here more than ordinary inter-
est is excited over the investigations
| in New York, into the alleged illegal
operations of some of the trans7Atlan-
tic steamship lines, especially the
Holland-American line. The charges
that these lines have entered into con-
spiracies with certain American rail
way lines in restraint of trade that
rebates have been paid them by some
railroads and that they have laid
themselves liable to prosecution I'M
der the terms of the Sherman anti
trust act did not come as surprise
to those who had followed the pro-
ceedings in what was known as the
cosmopolitan shipping case before
the interstate commerce commission.
That proceeding was brought by the
Cosmopolitan Shipping company of
Philadelphia against the Hamburg
American Packet company and other
transatlantic steamship lines. 1t is
alleged that the ocean lines named
had entered into an arrangement with
American railroads by which the bulk
'of European freight sent to this coun-
try was handled by tne steamship
companies in the pool TO the detri-
ment OF the Cosmopolitan company.
which also operates a line of trans
Atlantic steamers.
The interstate commerce commits
sion investigated the complaint thor
oughly. The entire mass of testi-
mony was turned over to the depart
ment of justice for such action as it
might determine to take The opin-
ion of the commission appeared to in
dicate tnat there was no violation of
the interstate commerce act, as the
case was dismissed.
Chairman Knapp said that the pres
ent proceedings had been instituted
by the department of justice and that
the commission was not cognizant of
the details
In the opinion of lawyers who have
been consulted, the likelihood is that
tle proceedings are to be instituted
against the ocean steamship lines un
der the Sherman antitrust act, with
a view to bringing to book the Amer
lean agents of the ocean lines.
The investigation of the South
American steamship lines is not so
well developed as the transatlantic
case, which has been going on for
six months or more, but the allegat
ions are of startling character and |
If sustained by the investigation prom |
Use very important developments.
The department OF Justice officials |
are observing the utmost reticence. Ii |
was learned however, that the assis- |
tant district attorney at New York |
city was here about a fortnight ago |
and got instructions to proceed with |
the case before the grand jury.
The governments crusade along |
these lines-both against tne trans |
companies and the others
marks a distinct advance in the an
nails of anti-corporation litigation. II |
is probably the first case in which the |
of justice has instituted |
a prosecution for acts In restraint of |
foreign commerce under the Sherman |
law of 1890, penalizing res |
traint of commerce by a punishment |
Of $4,000 fine or not exceeding one |
years imprisonment or both, on |
every person who shall monopolize, or |
attempt to monopoliZe, or combine or |
vita any other person or per
sons TO monopolize any part of the |
trade or commerce among the several |
states, or with foreign nations"