New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-19
JAIL FOR ICE DEALERS
IS Mr.. WH|TMAN'S PLAN
Declines Aid at Hearing That
Might Lead to Immunity from
Criminal Prosecution.
OLD MONOPOLY REVIVED
State, County and City Working
in Harmony to End Extortion
Aldermen Would Dust
Trust from Piers.


The offers of help from the attorneys
OF the ice trust at the hearing before
Magistrate Appleton on the alleged con-
spiracy to manipulate the ice trade were
cut short yesterday by Mr.. Whitman in
q way that showed clearly his purpose
TO bring criminal actions against those
responsible for the curtailment of the
supply 10 the independent dealers and
the increase in price during the recent
hot spell.
'Inasmuch as the Knickerbocker COM
pany will be deeply concerned in the
coming hearings" F. r. Savidge, attor-
ney for Wesley NJ. Oler, said. Il desire
to state that its officers will gladly APP
pear without subpoena to assist Mr..
Whitman"
Are you willing TO stipulate that these
things will he done without claims for
immunity at any subsequent preced-
ings?" Mr.. Whitman asked CURLY, be-
fore Mr.. Savidee had a chance TO eX-
haust the list of all the things his clients
would do to help the peoples case.
Yes" he said. after a moments hest
taticn we expect to he able 10 show
that So far were Mr.. Oler and his asso-
ciatcs from being responsible for the
shortage that they did their best to al
leviate conditions caused by the Excess
sively hot weather"
II was said by a representative Of the
District Attorneys office that the present
investigation is to he considered as 4
step ahead Of the ice prosecutions Of
1906. Whereas civil penalties were sup
rosed 10 he sufficient at that time. it
was said that the ultimate aim of the
present action would be TO bring the mat
ter down to prison sentences.
Ain, TO Get Jail Sentences.
The former effort to break the ice
trust failed of its purpose" said this Off
cial. because it simply resulted in re-
adjustment Of the bookkeeping methods
so as outwardly to conform with the
law.
But as matter of fact the same old
business is being carried on in the same
old way under different names. You
can't break up trusts with fines. Fines
don't hurt a big cOrporation-they are
simply charged 10 operating expenses,
new books are started another group Of
men is designated to carry on the bus!-
ness and the profits roll in as before.
There is only one thing TO do to break
up this trust business" he said, land
that is to send the individuals TO Jail
Either that or create public neces-
saries commission, with power 10 fix the
price of commodities at figures that would
be established by free natural competi-
tive conditions. We are going to push
the present ice proceedings TO one Of
these two results"
The present complaint against the ice
men starts with a review Of the ice trade
since March, 1899, alleging that at that
time 50 per cent Of the available ice in
Maine and along the Hudson was con-
trolled by the (old) Knickerbocker and
the Consolidated Ice companies.
The story tells these companies agreed
20 form a monopoly of the fee trade. and
organized the American Ice Company
under the laws of New Jersey, with au-
thorized capital stock Of $G00G0.0OO, and
then went about the unlawful restraint
of trade
The recital describes the various legal
actions leading up TO the breaking up Of
this trust and the fining of the American
Ice Company in the sum Of 5000. 1t
states that AT the time the company con-
- e h. ,f of
ural ice available for New York and 10
PER cent Of the capacity of the artificial
icc plants.
The complaint charges that on or about
the 9TH day Of May. 1911. Wesley NJ.
Oler. Thomas Pettigrew, Robert y. Ba-
vier. Edward J. Reilly. Harry Bester,
George W. Westal and other persons
did within the county Of New York con
spire to continue in the monopoly Of the
sources Of supply of ice.
Same Old Trust, Complaint Says.
The information goes on to say that
the Ice Manufacturing Company was
formed TO operate all Of the artificial ice
trade Of the American Ice Company. and
the NEW HilShti bo'h'I t''h 'Nei al
OF the natural ice trade Of that company
or IT'S subsidiary concerns, and that the
stock Of these two new corporations was
received by the stockholders of the dis
banded corporation I'm exchange for their
holdings on May =. it is alleged the
American Ice Securities Company, a
New Jersey corporation, controlled a