Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-31
TO LAY BARE BOOKS
American Ice Company Re-
cedeS From First Stand.
DIRECTORS OVERRULEOLEY
Business for Past Six Years Open to
Government Prosecutors.
MAY HALT GRAND INQUEST
If No Criminal Act Has Been Shown,
Proceeding May Be Along
Other Lines.
DIRECTORS OVERRULEOLEY
MAY HALT GRAND INQUEST

The American Ice Company. which is
under investigation before the grand
jury in an inquiry into supposed viola
tons OF the Sherman antitrust law, to-
DAY receded from the position taken last
week by its president Wesley NJ Obey.
ana offered to lay bare to inspection by
representatives OF the Department of Jus
tice all Its books and records.
The company denies that IL has vio-
lated the law, and expresses its wish to
abide by the limitations of the antitrust
act.
The only thing asked by the company
is that proceedings against ii before the
grand jury be halted until Assistant
united states Attorney Huidekoper. who
probably viii go to New York for the
purpose, has completed his inspection of
the company's books and records.
Should the department after inspection
be of the opinion that the methods pur-
sued here by the American Ice Company
are unlawful. it was stated today the
company binds itself to change its meth
DDS to conform with the wishes OF the
department.
Decision Result Of Conference.
The announcement that the govern
ment will have full access to the books of
the corporation was made today by Act
ing United States Attorney Huidekoper.
as the result of a conference held last
evening by Attorney General Wickersham
with William A. Tucker of New York.
who came from the metropolis as the
representative of the board of directors
of the American Ice Company.
Present at the conference also Were Mr.
Huidekoper and Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral Jesse c. Adkins
Mr.. Tucker is a member of the board o.
directors of the ice concern. He entered
the board. it is understood. through tn.
Knickerbocker Trust Company, which
held many securities of the ice company
Mr.. Huidekoper declared the agreement
does not discontinue the inquiry into ths
| alleged 'ice trust" but changes the
method of operation only. Instead of pro
Huidekoper will go to New York and
! there inspect the books and records anc
| examine the contracts made by the com
pany with other concerns making or sell.
| ing ice.
May Have Chance at Remedy.
Should his investigation develoE
what he considers violation Of the
law. 1t is expected the ice company,
directors will be advised of what the
Department Of Justice considers infrac
tions Of law and will be given an op.
portunity to remedy them. Should
i 3
called on at any time in September to
take up its investigation where it will
| drop 1t next Friday.
! II the investigation by Mr.. Huide
koper divulges that the suspicion Of
the department that the Sherman Law
] is being criminally violated, is ground
less. the proceeding before the grand
| jury will then be dismissed.
| The jurors will meet again Friday, but
are expected to hold only a short ses-
sion, then to take their summer vaca-
tion with the understanding that IL de-
velopments require their reassembling
they will be subject to call.
oler Declines to Bring Books.
Wesley NJ. Oler when summoned before
| the grand jury declined to bring with hir:
all the books of the company for the
past six years. He claimed that to &C
| Quiesce in the demand Of the subpoena
| would be to cripple the company's bust
ness. He also claimed the subpoena was
too broad and amounting to .''unwar-
ranted seizure
| 1t was thought the grand jury would
have to apply to the court to secure q
view of the books, but subsequent devel-
opments indicate that the board CT di-
rectors decided not to uphold the stand
taken by its president. and sought the
| conference with Attorney General Wick.
ersham.