The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31
STEAMSHIP TRUST
. RALEOINTOC0URT
Action Brought Against Alleged
Pool by Department
of Justice.
OTHER NATIONS INVOLVED
"Conspirators" Met in New York
to Divide Their Trade to
China and Japan.
Especial to The rime--Dispatch.j

lopeCidl 10 Inc llTleE-DiSpatch.J
Washington. March 3o.--A new gun
IN L Department Of Justices trust
busting campaign was fired at New
York to-day when government counsel
nled a bin for dissolution OF an al
legged octopus OF roal ocean parent
age-a Far Eastern chipping pool
Many of the firms involved are cor
porations or partnerships OF other na-
lions. but because the alleged "con-
spirators' arc said to havo met IN New
York TO "divy" UP their trade from
New York to China and Japan. and TO
further their plans for restraining
commerce. the department feels the
Federal courts have Jurisdiction.
One OF tho allegations in tho bill
was that when the pool could not
take care of traffic forwarded by It's
sh 'ppcrs-to whom rebating was also
granted. according to the suit. a
dummy line hired independents ships.
Tho suit comes az the result OF q
comprehensive investigation Into the
general steamship conditions. The al
legged pools and agreements covering
other phases OF American ocean trade
arc being investigated.
Tho Defendants.
Tho papers prepared for filing al
paniea have acquired complete
monopoly of the transportation of
rc'ght between the United States and
the Far East by water. The defendants
named iE the papers are American
Asiatic Steamship Company. OF Maine.
it's officers and Shewan Tones 6 Co.
of Great Britain, Eald to control this
company the Anglo-American OIL
Company. OF Great Britain: Thomas b.
r L..
of number OF steamships; the Ham
burg American Line. United States and
China ] a pan Steamship Company; sew
eral individuals doing business under
the firm name OF Funch. Edge e Co,
New Terk City. alleged to be agents
of the United States and Chinn-Japan
Line: Howard Houlder and partners
Utd.). Andrew Weir G. Co. and
Houlder. Middleton & Co, of Great
Britain. maintaining line OF steam
slips known a. the America Oriental
Line; Barber & Co. (Inc.), OF New Jer-
sey. and officers OF the company: Ian
cashire Shipping Company (Ltd.). OF
Great britain: Grantin, Gilmore Com
pCny. of Great Britain; Dodwcll & Co.
N.td), OF Great Britain; Bucgnall
Steamship Line Utd). of Great
Britain, called proprietor OF Fl line of
81 amships known as the American
.ujnCllur' an Line SeNcIa- lnnlN1CullS
doing business under he firm name
OF Norton & Son. agents for the Amer
lean Manchurian Line. Isthmian
Steamship Company (Ltd), OF Great
Britain. maintaining the Isthm'an
Line, as well as many individual
agents.
Under Sherman Law.
The governments action Will be
brought under the Sherman antitrust
law. and Will set forth that by means
of agreements. pools and conferences.
freight trade between the United
States, and the Philippines. China.
Japan, and other countries of the
Far East have been monopolized. An
unlawful combination and conspiracy
Will be alleged through two agree
mcnts. one concerning the eastward
traffic. and the other the westward. 1t
VIII be charged that the pooling
agreements were made at conferences
held periodically in London, New York
Hong Kong and Singapore.
Both tire eastward and westward
agrcements, it will be alleged divide
the traffic among the defendant COM
pantes; that under the eastward agree
ment the lines do not compete at all
for government contracts, and the
profits are divided: that deferred re-
bate system is maintained under the
westward agreement. Pools arc said
to exist under both agreements into
which the earnings of the steamship
lines arc placed after the deduction
OF certain