The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-12-03
MANY INDICTMENTS
IN ANTITRUST CASE
individuals and Firms Must
Answer to Charges
HELD IN HEAVY BONDS
Two Members of Philadelphia Firm
Are Held on Charge of Obtaining
Rate ON Grain Less Than
Published Rate
HELD IN HEAVY BONDS

Savannah, November 2.-After hearing
testimony since noon on Monday the fed
eral grand jury of the United States dis
| trict court for the southern district of
Georgia handed down indictments early
this afternoon, charging an infringement
OF the antitrust laws on the part of three
large corporations and two individuals.
The Atlantic Coast Line railway and Sea-
board Air Line railway were each jointly
indicted with the Merchants and Miners
Transportation company for specific vio-
lations of the Sherman antitrust and FL
lins laws, while Harvey Miller and Nor
ris Miller. grain merchants and members
of the firm of L. f. Miller & Sons of Phil
adelphia were the individuals to feel the
wrath of the government. It was antici-
pated yesterday that the corporation and
Harvey Miller would be presented. the ru-
mors coming from an authoritative
source, but no expectation existed in con-
nection with Morris Miller.
The Merchants and Miners Transporta-
ton company was indicted three times,
once as a sole offender and twice in con-
nection with the Seaboard Air Line and
the Atlantic Coast Line railways. Nor
rls F. Miller and Harvey c. Miller OF
Philadelphia were Immediately arrested
and placed under bonds of $4,000 each.
The indictments are lengthy documents,
covering in one instance 75 pages The
others vary in length down to % pages
In each Indictment specific allegations are
made of the acts which constitute the al
legged infractions Of the trust laws.
Dates are given when the defendants
are alleged to have made shipments over
the lines named at rates less than those
on file with the interstate commerce COM
mission 1t is alleged that from western
poirts to Philadelphia the Millers secured
export rates where the law demanded
they should be shipped under domestic
rates. This saved them from to cents
upon every hundred pounds of grain
shipped
The Miller brothers put themselves In
the jurisdiction of the United States court
for the southern district of Georgia
through their shipments into this district
over the lines of the three corporations
indicted.
Each Indictment is signed by Alexander
A. A. Herman assistant district attorney
for the southern district of Georgia, and
by John F. Price, foreman OF the grand
jury Immediately after the indictments
were presented Judge Emory Speer
thanked the grand jury for its prompt and
effective work and commented upon the
example of patriotism it had set through
the service rendered.
The beginning of the investlgaloh
against the defendants arose from conf
plants registered with the interstate
commerce commission during the summer
to the effect that the Miller firm
had effectively destroyed competition IN
grain shipments over an enormous terri
tory embracing points along the Mlssis-
sippi and Ohio rivers and In the soutn
Atlantic states. Proceedings were held
before Commissioner Clements in Phila-
delphia during July and the revelations
were sufficient to start the powerful ma
chinery OF the government against not
only the Miller firm, but also the IN
termediaries. The first connection or the
railroads and the Millers arose during
The hearing before Commissioner Glenn
ents. in which it developed the Pennsyl-
yauia system had sold its Philadelphia
elevator to the keystone Elevator COM
many. L. F. Miller & Son controlled TINS
latter company and were responsible Ior
shinrnents made to the south over poth
the railroads indicated and upon vessels
of the steamship company at rates much
less than those on file with the commits
sion. In addition of this infraction OF the
law 1t was found that grain shipped from
western to eastern points enjoyed the eX-
mort rates instead of domestic and saw
ing of from to cents on each 100 POUNDS
was effected by the Philadelphia firm.