The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-04
Government Files Suit
Against Thirty-fve
Concerns.
MAKES CHARGE
OF CONSPIRACY
Defendant Companies Alleged to
Control 81 Per Cent. Of Coun-
try's Supply Of Electric Lights.
Corporations Might Volun-
tarily Discontinue Prac-
tees Objected To.

Cleveland. Ohio. March 3--The
United States government began here
today a figh! against what is alleged
! 70 be one Of the most powerful and
complete monopolics in the country.
when suit was filed in the United
states Court against thrty-iive con-
Germs engaged in the manufacture Of
incandescent electric lights.
The National Electric Light Com
rany, which has it's headquarters here,
and the General Electric Company. or
New York. are. named IS two of the
defendants. and are charged with be-
ing the keystone of the trust which
has its qualifications in every state
in the Union.
According to the governments petit
ton. the defendant companies are
banded together In conspiracy in
restraint of trade. and have ALREADY.
country's supply Of electric lights.
The trust is alleged 10 have had
Its origin soon after 1901 the year
in which the United states patents on
carbnn filament incandesccnt lamps
expired By 1906 combination
known as the Independent Lamp
Manufacturers Association is charged
with having obtained control Of the
lamp output. and with having fixed
prices, allotted business and prescrib-
ed rules Of sale for its members. The
National Electric Light Company. OF
New York, Is stated to have owned
f5.2 per cent stock in this combina-
ton, which is accused of obtaining
exorhitant profits by restraining trade
and forcing high prices. The petition
asserts that the profits OF the COM
binatton, las paid in dividends. We're
$4,000 in 1904; s26o,oo0 in 1909, and
100000 III 1910. Last year the com
pany is said TO have held s1.43e,15s93
as an undivided surplus for its mem
bcrs. Tie capital Is now listed at s5,-
100000
,rt OF Industry.
The extent OF the industry, which IS
thus brought under fire in the gov
ernment's antitrust campaign, is
shown in the statement that approxi-
mately So.oocooo lamps are sold In
this country every year, for an aggre-
gate purchasing amount OF $4,000
000
The defendants include not only the
alleged members Of the combination
but supply companies and others al
legged 10 be engaged in furthering the
interests Of the combination.
The petition asks that the National
Electric Lamp Company be enjoned
from voting the stock of. or receiving
any dividends from the thirty odd
corporations alleged to have been &C
CURED and controlled by it: that the
other companies be enjoined from
paying dividends to the National
Electric Lamp Company; that the Cen
eral Electric Company, which the petit
ton says controls the holding COM
pany. be enjoined from using its
stock in that company: that existing
and future agreements between the
companies be voided, and that they
be forbidden to exercise control OF
foreign patents, or use the same to
suppress competition.
Charges In Petition.
The petition charges that there eX-
list agreements with the Westinghouse
Company and others TO sell lamps at
prices dictated by the combina ton:
1t further alleges that the defendants
have bought UP German patents on
filament lamps, and will not sell the
German products unless the buyers
agree to buy also the carbon flament
lamps; that the combination organiz-
ed alleged independent companies to
sell inferior lamps, SO a 70 hurt the
trade of the real indep endents: that
contracts were made with dealers in
inventions patents and machinery TO
confine the sale of their products to
the combination. and that the price of
n Atv1xy