New-York tribune., 1912-03-31
SUES COMBINATION OF
SHIPS RUNNING TO EAST
Government Seeks Dissolution,
Alleging Complete Monopoly
of This Foreign Trade.
WICKERSHAM DIRECTS WORK
Follows Similar Effort Against
Atlantic Conference to Estab-
lish Control Of Com
merce on the Sea.

llSh COnCrOl OF OOIu-
merce on the Sea.
An equity suit for the dissolution Of
combination OF steamship lines engaged in
the carrying of freight from the Atlantic
ports Of America to Asiatic ports was filed
Yesterday I'm the Federal Court by Henry
A. Wise. alleging that the combination has
obtained a complete monopoly of this part
OF the country's foreign trade and that with
the Philippine Islands, and thus has vlo-
lated the provisions Of the Sherman law
The action was prepared under the direc-
ton of Attorney General Wickersham' ana
is a further step of the United States gov
ernment to exercise control over its trade
on the high seas. In January, l9ll' the
overnment brought a similar SUIT against
the Atlantic Conference, popularity known
as the steamship trust which is composer
Of all the lines plying between this counu!
and Europe. In that case agreements gov
erning passenger rates, particularly s'eei
600 rstas and an arbitrary distribution OF
Axed percentages OF business among the
various lines were alleged as the prIncipai
monopolistic acts. This suit is still pend
ing. ..
The defendants named in the sur orous"
yesterday are:
The American-Asiatic Steamship com
nanW William Barclay Parsons, It's presl-
dent James n. T. McMurtrie, It's secretdI
and r H Blake, an empioye, all reSIue''oss
of New York Shewan nc Ionles me 80 STOCK
Of the American-Asiatic Line the AIlslu
American oil Company, OF LONDON, s oGiIy9 ~
of the Anglo American OH Lihe' ',rh am n p
Rovden. Of Liverpool, and the haHIpSurs
American Line, as owners OF the CnIi.s mn
Japan Steamship Company, ana lts ana HIa"d d6o
ers and agents IN New 6oIh' tsu w lr,ar-
iran- Oriental Line, Barber * Co, OF N9. II
broadway; Herbert Barber. It's presluen'
and a number OF English corporations con-
rolling the so-called Barber or DodWeli
line. the American n-Manchurian Line anu il
its agents. $ s Norton, Joseph l. LIN
and q NJ Norton, of New Horh ah1 I1re
Tsthmian Line and its agent, j. w RYAN,
also OF this city.
These defendants, the complaint said were
engaged in the foreign trade and commerce
of the United States as common carriers oI
freight for hire between ports on the Az
Iortjc coast Of this country and ports in the
pb,Iinrine Islands and in countries Of the
Far East.
AIlsoed Monopoly Of Long Duration.
Tho government charged that the DEFEND
ants are and have been for !ohe ui"e
vioIatInr the provisions q the Sheriiiai u
antitrust act, and that they are anu
have been for a long time engaged III al
unlawful combination and conspiracy uh-
dulv. unreasonably and directly 10 restrain
the said trade and commerce, ana nave III
fact. monoponzed that trade.
This proceeding is instituted ~ prevent
ord reetro,n the defendants from further
enforcing. abiding hv or engaging IN 'he
hereinafter particularly described agree
ments contracts. combinations and con-
spiracies to monopolize the said trade anu
commerce, and thus to prevent Iu''"s'
violation OF the law IT,
The petition said that since 1913 the onN
steamship lines engaged IN this trade were
those operated by the defendants Inc
u,o,rer and means OF accomplishing the
alleged monopoly were described III deld'''
and the principal agreement entered In'o
an ArriI e. 1905. and other documentary
evidence Of understanding We're submitted
as exhibits.
The agreements provided for the appor-
,ionment Of saiings among the various
lines. for concerted action In estdoI'sh'"S
freight rates. division OF profits on govern
uant contracts for carriage under the ruIe'
the lines were not 20 bid against each other
Tor such contracts. and the agreements con-
ta,ned measures to prevent competition
from, outsiders The pooling agreement l.
made AZ the same time, the petition salu'
nrovided for a division Of pronts among al
the defendant lines.
uroes That Ports Be Closed
The governments prayer for relief asks
for an Injunction restraining the deiehu-
ants from continuing TO operate under tHs
illegal agreements; that they be restrained
from Offering or paying any bonus rebate
~ reduction Of freight rates IN any form
or guisa whatsoever in consideration OF
SINNERS forwarding merchandise exclu-
siveIv bv the combines lines, and that the
attendants be enioined and forbidden 70
enter or clear any Of their ships or vessels
at the Port Of New York or any other port
~ antrv within the United States or any
NJ it's possessions so long as they continue
to maintain the unlawful combinations ana
conspiracies or any other such similar COM
bination or conspiracy.
Mr.. Prou. when seen at his home No.
s38 Madison street, Brooklyn yesterday,
said he hadn't heard about the suit. lie
didn't know why he should be named as a
defendant in the Anglo-American OIL Com
pany suit. as he was neither an agent nor
an officer OF the Line. The Anglo-Ameri-
can Line is an English corporation, with
Offices in London" he said. and my pri-
vate opinion is that the federal government
has no jurisdiction" That was all MIR.
Pitou had 20 say
Washington, March SO.-The fling OF an
antitrust suit in New York against several
Of the big steamship companies transport
ing freight from the Atlantic Coast OF
the United States 10 the Far East by the
suez Canal is the result of a comprehen-
sive investigation into the general steam
ship conditions. Alleged pools and agree.
ments covering other phases of American
ocsap trade are being investigated.