The San Francisco call., 1910-06-04
BOOKS EXPOSE
BIGCONSPIRACY
OF FOOD TRUST.
Criminal Schemes for Boosting
of Vegetable Prices Are
Completely Revealed
Documents Form Sufficient
Technical Proof to Convict
Dealers Combine
Members Fined or Expelled for
Selling Under Prices Fixed
by Monopoly
THE books of the vegetable trust


HE books Of the vegetable trust,
showing a complete and detailed
conspiracy to force prices up, arc
IN the district attorneys office for the
Use Of the grand jury. They disclose
the plan Of control, list OF members,
rates Of fines for underselling, trials of
members for this offense and the pen
slties imposed Within the meaning
of the Cartwright antitrust law these
books outline a technically perfect
case of criminal collusion.
Owned by IS Men
The truck gardens supplying San
Francisco lie in the peninsula across
San Francisco and San Mateo coun-
ties. They are owned by IS men, who
form an incorporated association for
the marketing Of their products in the
big Colombo market, situated between
Jackson and Pacific streets and ex-
tending from Davis to Front To this
market the truck wagons roll in
during the night. BY noon the retail
ers are supplied and the gates are
closed.
These gardens supply all of the city's
perishable vegetables. such as lettuce
and the like. Commissionmen import
potatoes. onions, asparagus, artichokes
and such products as stand hard trav-
cling. and also such as may be out OF
season here But the merchants are
also heavy buyers from the mar0etmen,
for Alameda and Marin counties look
mainly TO san Francisco for their sup
plies.
The vegetable trust is double or
ganization, not only fixing the prices
TO be charged by the members, but act
ing as their landlord.
Called Protective Society
In its incorporated form the trust is
known as the protective society of the
gardeners and ranchers of the coun-
ties of san Francisco and san Mateo
Through this prices are set. taxes lev
led and fines imposed
For convenience the gardeners have
an inner union" through which they
operate the market, paying rent for
stalls. the hauling away OF refuse and
other expenses.
Although the two organizations are
but two phases of one. it is the pro-
tective society that District Attorney
Fickert his assistant. James F. Bren-
nan, and Foreman Isaac Goldman of
the grand jury are investigating. It's
books were produced by Secretary G.
Scalmanini. under subpoena.
This society has a constitution and
bylaws written in Italian. It has no
stock. so is not strictly a commercial
company. But no company could i'm
pose more severe conditions on en-
ployes than the society does on its
members.
Fines Are Levied
After stating that all vegetables pro-
duced by the association shall be sold
or exposed for sale in the Colombo
narktt the constitution proceeds to
Outline the rights and privileges of each
stall holder and to lay down a system
Of fines 10 prevent the blockading OF
passa geways. the intrusion of the rent
or on his neighbor and other matters
such as any regular market would
regulate But these are only details
The conspiracy to restrict trade i'm
mediately becomes evident in the terms
Of membership.
To become member of this uncapi-
talized society, the rancher must de-
post $500 with its treasurer, if he is
. newcomer in the business, or $3.50
If truck gardener prior to the form
ing OF the society. which came into
existence shortly after the fire.
This sum is not considered an initia-
ton fec. but a bond. It guarantees the
payment of dues and fines. The re-
mainder may be turned over to any
member who withdraws in good stand.
ing
Even to ask for membership the
applicant must deposit 800 as guar
antee Of good faith, 10 be returned in
case Of rejection.
Directors Fix Prices
Every Saturday night the board OF
directors meets as a committee for the
fixing Of prices. The schedule fixed
must be adhered to by members during
the week affected. under penalty OF
fines. II is printed in the form of a
circular with the names of the veg
etables running in a column and the
prices opposite. All matter sent out
by the society is printed and carries
: such warnings in italian as:
Confidential and private
Pay attention to regulations if you
DO not want to pay a fine"
~An members are commanded TO be
present
The directorate, which fixes prices