The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-17
UNCLE SAM STARTS
 TRUST BOYCOTT

SECRETARY OF WAR DIRECTS
 THAT NO CONTRACT SHALL BE
 MADE WITH ANY CORPORATION
 ADJUDGED TO BE AN UNLAW-
 FIJI COMBINATION.
 Washington, July 17-Trust made products have been boycotted by Sec. retary of War Dickinson and will not be used by the army He has adopted a new rule which is the most radical step in recent years in the purchase Of Government supplies. In a recent letter to Brig.-Gen. Henry G. Sharpe. Commissary General, Mr. Dickinson di- rected that no contract should be en- tered into with any corporation which is a party to a trust or com bination in restraint of trade. He has also ordered that no dealings be had by the Department with any middleman or agent where it is known that the mtddleman or agent is the representa- tive Of an unlawful concern.
 The question first came up several months ago in connection with the pur- chase of tobacco. The substance of the Secretary's ruling was cabled to the comrnissary officers in the Philip pines. in Hawaii and in Alaska for the3r guidence. Gen. Sharpe has pre- pared a circular order for distribution among the commissary officers of the army. This order was dated June lastsand was a confidential document. Dut a CODY OI IL became puOHC ycSIoT- day. The circular contains the Secre- tary's letter to Gen. Sharpe. the final decree filed on December Is. 1908, in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York. in which it was adjudged that the Ameri- can Tobacco Company. the American SnEnf Company, the American Cigar Company. the American Stogie Com pany and the MacAndrews & Forbes Company constitute a combination in restraint Of trade. and a list of the companies enjoined by the decree in the tobacco trust cases. In his letter to Gen Sharpe. under date of May 26 last Secretary Dickinson saId:
 Sir: Referring to Department in- dcrsement of March 27, 1909, referring letter from the Attorney-General for warding a copy of decree entered in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York on De- cember 15,, 1908, whereby among other things it was adjudged that the Amer ican Tobacco Company, the American Snuff Company. the American Cigar pany and the MacAdrews Forbes Company, each constitutes and is it. self a, combination in violation of the act of Congress approved July 2. 1890. entitled s"An ect to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies," now have the honor to direct that no contract on behalf of the Government be entered into direct | ly with any corporation which has been adjudicated to be party to an | unlawful trust or monopoly and to be | carrying on business in violation of l law, nor with any midd1eman or agent | of any such company or concern where l it is known that such middleman or | agent is acting for such unlawful con- 1 cern.
 Very respectfully.
 J. M. DICKINSON,
 Secretary of War. The Commissary General, U. S. Army l Washington, D. c.
 After giving the decree of the United | States Circuit Court for sthe, Southern District of New York. upon which the l Secretary's letter was based, the order l gives q list of about fifty companies | enjoined in the tobacco trust case. | These companies are located in various | parts of the country.