Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-24
BOOTH is SUED FOR MONOPOLY
Sitting OF TRADE Is ALLEGED


Fisheries company was begun yester-
day in United states district court by the
Brown Produce company of i3i3 Howard
street. the complaint being that the de-
fendant has SO sfifled trade and ruined
its business by trust methods that the
plaintiff viii be forced into bankruptcy
The petition. which thoroughly outlines
the practices Of the Booth company. not
only In Omaha. but In every state where
that concern carries on business. was
filed by John o. Yeiser. counsel for com
plainant.
Companies In Conspiracy.
The San Juan Fishing and Packing COM
pany. a Washington corporation. having
offices in the Brandeis thezter building.
is made co-defendant. and IL 10 set forth
that this and the Booth concerns con-
spired 10 effect a monopoly and that they
have q mutual agreement as to prices
that shall be charged TO the 1obbing
trade, that they are agreed on methods
designed TO aid each other IN secret and
still give the false impression TO the
public OF being in competition.
1t is alleged that to accomplish their
purpose the defendants maintain the Mil
Ter. Cooper q Co. fish and oyster Job
bing house at iol5 Howard street. as 9
blind TO deceive the public into believing
there is legitimate competition. and have
conspired with other persons and corpora
tons unknown. to accomplish the ends
alleged"
Sweeping Charges Made.
The Booth company has thrown away
and destroyed fish and oysters to main
tain prices is another allegation made 10
show that the defendant has sought to
destroy competition in independent deal
ers. and has obtained a monopoly OF the
fish and oyster business in all OF the
United States. where exorhitant prices
are maintained. A sweeping and general
allegation covering al states where the
nsh and oyster business Is pursued ID
set forth in the following terms
That said defendants uniawfuily
wickedly. maliciously and untustly con-
spired and agreed together with other
persons and corporations unknown q
complainant to combine, organise and
| monopolize the fish and oyster commerce
between all Of the states Of the United
States TO prevent. hinder and obstruci
the development of any commerce In.
dependent OF said monopoly and unlaw'
That aid defendants unlswfuIiy
wickedly. maliciously and unjustly con.
spired and agreed together and with
other persons unknown TO complainant
to stifle, destroy. break up and bankrupt
L Ill e. "A t..AM aAxrn .<f
| petition or dealer In such commerce who
refused TO purchase and sell under the
price, terms and rules Of said monopoly
| and trust or become the mere agents oil
said trust and monopoly.
| Methods Are Detailed.
The general plan Of the so-cailed trust
fn sitting competition in such mannei
that appears safe from detection is 4
rndsrtaks to make such dealers as tn,
Miller Cooper company part Of the trus
as a mere agency to buy and sell ,undel
the rules. prices. terms and conditions
dictated, itAs said. Further II IL alleget
that the independent dealer is reportet
insolvent and he 10 villified and injures
in credit and standing by threats to pre-
vent purchases and by sending spies L
report the extent Of customers and mean
Of attack to destroy the business. 4
possible. without locally cutting prices
That also pretended fish and oys.ei
houses are maintained to impose upon In
dependent dealers by representing tina
| they are not connected with the trust
and who manipulate trade and orders
cut prices and discourage the Independent
dealer generally
Reputation fs Destroyed.
Another means Of harassing the Brown
company. according to the petition. wa
taken in sending the Booth westerl
agent. Thomas Frye. to the eastern fish
| ing fields to destroy the credit and tn
reputation OF the plaintiffs. BY misrep
resentation 1t 10 also said that the Boot
company secured the friendship, Gus
toners and extent OF trade Of the Brow
company by declaring that II was fight
ing the trust.
Incidentally, II might be mentioned tina
the Booth company had for more THAI
five years maintained prices OF halibu
at from 10 to ID cents pound. ''exeep
/ ting for a short period when the trus
was engaged in breaking up the firm o
Talmase a Mccoy but that after. tn,
slashing commenced prices dropped to
cents. and other commodities in lik
proportion
Grows Until Attacked.
The Brown company was organize,
with capital stock Of $1,000 in Novsm
Der, 1911. The business was In the hand
Of competent men. II is set forth. am
grew steadily and rapidly until /
amounted to $500 per month, affordinl
about IS per cent annual dividends. Unit
the trust methods were prseticed In Marc
Of this year. the business was in fin
shape. but now the Brown company com
plains that II is involved in 400 indebted
ness. and has no other remedy that tina
to be found In the BANKRUPTCY court. TIL
plaintiff alleges that II has been damage,
to the extent OF 5000 and asks 70
treble this amount, or 5000. in addition
70 $500 for attorneys fees and cour
/ roRfE