Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-03-04
Electrical Companies Made
Defendants 10 Big
Suit
Companies are Charged with
Conspiracy in Restraint
Of Trade
10y Associated pross.)


Cleveland, O., March 3-The U
S. government began here today a
fight against what is alleged to be
one of the most powerful and com
plete monopolies in the country, when
suit was filed against IS concerns
engaged in the manufacture Of incan'
descent electric lights.
The National Electric Lamp Com
pany, which has its headquarters here
and the General Electric Company ct
New York, are named as two Of the
defendants and are charged with be-
ing the Keystone Of the trust which
has IT'D famiacations in every state in
the Union. According to the govern
ment's petition the defendant COM
panies are banded together in con-
spiracy in restraint Of trade and have
already gained control Of 81 per cent
of the country's supply Of electric
lights. The trust is alleged to have
had its origin soon after 1904, the
year in which the United States pat.
ents on carbon flament incandscnt
lamps expired. BY 1906 the combin'
alton known AZ the Independent Lamp
Manufacturers Association is charged
with having obtained control Of the
lamp output and with having fixed
prices, allotted business and pre-.
scribed rules Of sale for its members.
The genral electric company Of New
York is stated to have owned 75.2 per
cent of stock in this combination,
which is accused of obtaining exhorbi'
tant profits by restraing trade and
forcing high prices. The petition as
serts that profits of the combination
as paid in dividends were $4,000 in
1904, $260,000 in 1909, and 100000 in
1910. Last year the company Is said
70 have held 81, ,489, 1888 a. an undi-
vided surplus. The capital is now
listed At 36,0o0,00o. The extent Of
the industry which is thus brought
under 1lre Of the governments anti
trust campaign is shown in the state
ment that approximately 10000, 900 are
sold in this country every year for an
aggregate purchasing amount of $780,
100000.
- The government suit filed at Cleve-
land today against the General Elec-
trio Company Of New York, the West.
1nsss1use Electric and Manufacturing
Co., of Pennsylvania, the Nationee:
Electric Lamp Company Of New Jer-
sey and 80 other defendants, may be
the last blow struck at the so-called
electrical trust, as it is the first. Init.
nation that the corporations compris- |
ing the trusts might, voluntarily dis |
continue the practices to which the
government objects is contained in q
statement made by Attorney General
ickersham today.
The defendants have already tndi-
Gated Z disposition to conform to the
of the government"
said he, "and the department hopes
that q dissolution of the combina-
ton will be effectd without prolonged
litigation"
This suit relates only to an ALLEGED
combination and conspiracy in the
and sale Of incandescent
electrict lamps. Other separate &C:
tions against combinations alleged to
Involve illegal agreements relating to
the manufacture and sale Of prac.
ticaliy every other appliance neces'
sary to the various uses Of electricity
have ben in process Of incubation In
the department of Justice for months.