The Washington herald., 1910-06-19
JUSTICE PURSUES
THE EVIL TRUSTS
Suits Against Companies I'm
der Sherman Law.
DEPARTMENT TURNS ACTIVE
Southern Wholesale Grocers' Assoc
citation Falls Under Ban of In
Observation-Disclosures Concerns Also
Attacked-suiss Succeed Against
Railroads I'm Pennsylvania.

tice is bending every energy in the serv-
Ice OF the people was shown last week by
the number of prosecutions undertaken
BIZ the Attorney General
With great diseernment as 20 what
line of proceedings will do the most
damage. says ]. S. Bache & Co. Of New
York. most Of the prosecutions have been
brought under the Sherman antitrust
law.
One OF these is against a combination
of wholesale groeers. the allegation being
that in violation OF the law referred TO.
the wholesalers hold the retailers and
the housekeepers at their mercy. The
suit Is instituted against the Southern
Wholesale Grocers' Association, but II
II succeeds every combination of whole
salers will be broken up on the ground
that there is restraint Of trade under
the Sherman antitrust act. This will
be a great victory for the department
and win throw into confusion q long
Inc Of corporations and combinations.
which have been building up their bust
ness for years.
Attacks Chicago Concerns.
Another suit has just been filed in the
United States Circuit Court in Chicago
to enjoin the Chicago Butter and Egg
Company from issuing quotations and to
dissolve the organization. The idea here
is that the quotations have been too low.
The Attorney General has also begun
investigation of methods employed in for
nation of the 100000 600 bath tub trust"
This combination has started in 10 raise
prices and make more money. and any
thing OF this kind, when the tariff is
blamed for all high prices. should be
dragged into the arena TO show the pub
lie what a perfect tariff we have and
how. anyhow. other people are TO blame
for high prices besides the administra-
ton.
A suit has been brought by the Attor-
ney General against a Chicago stock
yards company. This suit is a surprise
to the directors of the company, who be-
lieve they have clean bill OF health,
but the department wishes TO use a fine
tooth comb TO see If the eompany's con-
tracts are not in violation OF the Elkins
law.
Verdict Against Railroads.
In the United States court in PhiladeI-
phia a verdict has been brought in
against the Reading. the Lehigh Valley.
and the Bethlehem Steel Company, be-
cause the railroads cancelled a demurrage
charge OF 81 a day per car against the
steel company from April TO October.
1907. when alterations and repairs 10 the
tracks leading 10 the steel works had
congested traffic TO such an extent that It
was impossible TO move cars fast enough
for the steel plant to unload, and this
resulted in the Bethlehem Steel Company
being charged demurrage on cars IN
avoidably delayed.
The steel company objected TO the
charge. and the railroads threw II of
The government found out about II. and
got after the rascaIs. In
the suit each car represents a count:
there is a maximum fine of $1,000 for
each count, and the Indictment against
the I.ehigh, If the maximum were i'm
posed. would be s550,00O, against the
Reading SS7000O, and against the Bethle-
hem s1.5O0.OO0
The activity OF justice last week I'M
der the Sherman antitrust act has not
been confined TO the Attorney Generals
Office. Under section of the act, some
shirt-waist manufacturers have sued
Mrs. o. H. p Belmont, who sided with
the shirt-waist strikers, for $4,000. her
action, it is alleged. having been in re-
straint of trade
The Sherman antitrust act was so broad
ly drawn that its hide can be stretched
to cover nearly every operation OF mod
ern business and show it to be Illegal.
This act makes il the duty Of the several
district attorneys of the United States in
their respective districts, under the direc-
ton of the Attorney General. 10 carry on
prosecutions wherever there is the slight
est evidence of combination in restraint
Of trade. This has not been done here
.ofore, but the record of the week shows
hat the Department of Justice appre-
states its duties and ii looks as though
a broad wholesale attempt might be
made to enforce the act.
AmennbIe Under Act.
The American Banker has compiled
rom Moody's Manual a list Of all the
Industrial corporations which are prima
acie in defiance and under the ban OF
he Sherman act This list comprises
nearly 100 holding corporations includ-
ng almost every great line OF business
II the country, from the United States
Steel Corporation, with its $3.50 600 OF
and its eighty-nine SUBJ
idiary corporations, down to the smallest
ioted corporation in Maryland OF $4,000
capitalization. and every one OF them Is
liable to prosecution by the Federal gov
'rnment, with possible order resulting
or its dissolution. large fine and i'm
risonment. These 200 corporations have
together over 5000 subsidiary companies, |
nto which the larger corporations would
ave again TO be divided.
The amount of total capital involved |
over $1,000 100000. It would be a great
In the campaign against bus |
ness II this dissolution could be brought
bout It Is true that hundreds of thou
ands of people would be thrown out OF |
Employment and the wheels of Industry /
would have to stop. but in the campaign |
4 morality and political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, |
UGH little sacrifices against the work |
ng blood and brains of the country |
hould count small.