New-York tribune., 1911-03-04

ceived. and thirteen OF them were Identical
to penny. s5O.s31 O.
The petition declares that in 1901 there
were still seven independent lamp com
panies operating when the incandescent
lamp manufacturers determined TO crush
absolutely all competition then existing or
which should arise later" and formed the
National Electric Lamp Company Of New
Jersey. which proceeded to buy control OF
all the existing Independent companies save
one. The cash for these transactions. the
governments petition alleges. was ad-
venced by the General Electric Company
II also alleges that the General Electric
Company was not only the chief factor In
the organization of the National Electric
Lamp Company, but has always controlled
IT by the ownership of large majority
OF It's stock. although the petition says the
General Electric has represented itself a.
a competitor of the others.
The petition seeks 10 show that a. soon
as the patents on the manufacture OF the
old style carbon flament' lamp expired
In lSS an organized monopoly OF the trade
was planned and effected, although the
right to make, use and sell became free to
all as q matter of law The introduction
OF the so-called tungsten and tantalum
lamp adds another chapter to the story
and the petition alleges that the defendants
have unlawfully acquired the patents 20
that style of lamp. Contracts were made
with foreign interests and inventors, by
which, 1t is alleged control was secured
OF all the patents on the manufacture or
tungsten flament, "fcrestaling the posi-
billty of any competition whatever
Unfair competition, the sale OF inferior
lamps 70 customers OF Independent COM
panies at greatly reduced prices. sales OF
lamps under false brands and other Of
fences Of a similar nature are also charged
Although II was the announced intention
OF the Department OF Justice not TO file any
further antitrust actions until the Stand
ard Oil and Tobacco cases had been decid-
Ell in the Supreme Court, the electrical
case is an exception. as Il revolves around
the questions Of patent law and TO what
extent patents may be acquired TO create a
restraint of trade or a monopoly.
Attorney General Wickersham has given
much personal attention to the suit. His
assistant. W s Kenyon. is in direct charge
Of il. and Wade II. Ellis is one OF the spe-
cially retained counsel for the government
Pittsburg, March 3--Frcm various sources
It is learned that the Westinghouse Elec-
trio and Manufacturing Company is in
vOlved In the governments action through
the Westinghouse Lamp Company. The lat
ter is owned and controlled by the klec-
trio and Manufacturing Company, It being
one Of several lamp plants of the West
inghouse interests. The Westinghouse Lamp
Company is the outgrowth of the Sawyer
Mann Lamp Company, which was pur-
chased by the Westinghouse people some
years ago The plant was removed from
Pittsburg to Bloomfield. y. J.
Providence March 3.-Marsden J. Perry.
a director OF the General Electric Com
pauy. expressed no surprise when informed
tonight Of the action which had been in
sttuted against his company and others by
the federal government.
The National Electric Lamp Company
said Mr. Perry is a corporation owning
stock in twelve or fifteen small lamp COM
panies scattered over the country The
General Electric Company Is interested
only because It chances TO be a stockholder
in the National Electric Lamp Company.
Thomas l. Walker. treasurer Of the Prov
idence Gas Burner Company. one Of the
concerns named I'm the suit had no com
ment TO make tonight When shown the
list Of concerns named he remarked: Il
suppose they will finally get every one in
the United States on the list
The General Electric Company gave out
the following statement here last night;
The government Of the United states has
brolgl { suit in Ohio against the General
Electric Company, the Westinghouse Eiec-
tric and Manufacturing Company the Na-
tiOnal Lamp Company and other companies
engaged in tie manufacture ana safe or IN
Candf scent lamps, alleging IN SlCN SUIT tne
violation OF the so-called Sherman act on
the ground that such companies have en-
tered a com mbination 10 restrain interstate
commerce and monopoHze the business N
inCandescent lamps.
TIE BIN has just been filed. and no oppor-
tunitv has been had az YET 70 study It's
terms or the wrongs complained Of. The
companies above mentioned have for 2
number OF years been operating under
hcen ~es granted under patents owned Dy
the General Electric Company covering the
manufacturing Of ircandescent lamps.
General Electric stock sold down 70 1855
after opening at 1852 yesterday, but the
fact that the stock was sailing eX-dividend
probably had as much TO GO with the de-
cline as the filing Of the suit. II rallied at
the close 70 14sIa. q net loss for the day OF
~ points The common stock Of the West
inghouse Electric and Manufacturing Com
pany which IS one 0: the defendants
named in the suit gained s point on the
days transactions, but the preferred lost
a full point