The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-05
BEGINS At TACK ON
STEAMSHIP TRUST
Government Sues Thirteen Trans
Atlantic Carriers on Ground They
Are in Monopoly.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5.-The federal
government brought suit yesterday
in the United States circuit court un-
der the Sherman antitrust law
against l3 of the principal trans-At-
lantic carriers, which are estimated
TO control 80 per cent OF the steerage
traffic, worth 10 them 55,000,000 a
year. Twelve officers OF the defend
ant companies, all resident In Amer
lea, are named as co-defendants.
These l3 companies, the government
charges. entered into an illegal con
tract Feb. 8, 1908, in London, Eng
land by which they constituted them
selves the Atlantic conference, with
selves the Atlantic conference, with
power TO apportion all traffic pro
rata. impose heavy fines on members
OF the conference for violation of any
OF the articles Of agreement and wage
competition against all lines outside
the conference.
AS result, il is alleged, the Rus
sian Volunteer Fleet, plying between
New York and Libau, was driven out
OF business, and the Russian. American
line was forced TO make terms with
The conference and enter its member
snip.
Suit was brought by Henry A. Wise,
United States district attorney, acting
under instructions from Attorney
General Wickersham.
In its petition the government
prays the court to "enjoin the defend
ants from further agreeing, combin-
ing. conspiring TO injure or destroy
n
poration engaged in the business of
carrying steerage passengers between
points in the United States and Eu-
rope.
Further. that each. every and all
of the defendant steamship lines be
forbidden either To enter or clear any
of their vessels ar or from the port
of New York or any other port of en-
try in the United States, or any Of
its possessions, so long as they shall
continue 10 operate under the afore-
said alleged unlawful combination or
conspiracy"
The defendant companies are:
Allan Steamship CO.. capitalized at
$3220.000; plies between Liverpool
Boston and Philadelphia, and Glns-
gov and Montreal.
International Mercantile Marine Co,
IA holding company capitalized at $780,
900 900.
International Navigation Co. sub
sidiary OF the International Mencan-
tile Marine Co.
Anchor Line Co, capitalized at So
$4,000, which plies between New
York and Glasgow
Canadian Pacific Railway Co, cap
italized at 100000 900. which oper-
ates between Montreal and Liverpool
Cunard Steamship Co., with a CAPT
tai OF 10000, 900, which has a service
between Liverpool and New York and
Boston
British & North Atlantic Steam
Navigation Co, subsidiary of the
International Mercantile Marine.
Hamburg-American line with a cap
ital OF s31 100000, whose service is
from Hamburg 10 New York, Boston,
Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Holland-America line. capital I'M
available, which runs steamers be
tween Rotterdam and New York.
The North German Lloyd Co, CAPT
tai unavailable. which runs steamers
between Brennan and New York
The Red Star line, subsidiary OF
the International Mercantile Marine.
which operates between Antwerp and
New York
White Star line. a subsidiary of the
International Mercantile Marine.
with service between New York and
Liverpool.
Russian East Asiatic Steamship Co.
capital una ailable. which plies be-
tween Libau and New York