The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-01-13
UNDUE RESTRAINT IS. !.
CHARGED !. ! [: BY ZENITH
: erious Statement Made by In
: dependent Phone Company
~ Against Competitor.
\ ES MS RAILROADS ARE
e ND TO BELL COMPANY
All> Contract Prevents it
From Installing 1ndepen-
dent Phones. 49,.

That is a serious charge. If true, that
the Zenith Telephone company brings
against it's competitor, the Duluth Tel
ephone company, when 1t gives the
reason why the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific railroads at Duluth
do not use the telephone of the Zenith
company.
The Independent company declares
that it is in possession of a copy Of
contract existing between the Iill
railroads and the Bell company in
which it is shown that an agreement
exists to the effect that in return: for;
certain telephone service the railroads
will not use the telephone of any COM
peting. company.
Given Exclusive Rights.
The stipulation in the alleged con-
tract is said to read substantially as
follows:-'The Great Northern Rail-
way, the party of the first part, shall
not or will not, during the life of this
contract, install or permit to be in
stalled in or upon the premises of
the Duluth Telephone company in the
Carlton, or either of them, telephone
stations belonging to any telephone
company competing with the Duluth
Telephone company and during the
life of this contract shall use only
telephone instruments furnished by
Duluth Telephone company at said
cities, and each of them. The Duluth
Telephone company, however, shall
not and will not make any toll charge
to the party of the first part for mes
sages of the party of the first part
between the aforesaid cities, or any
of them.''
Monopoly Is Charged.
Because of the existence of this al
legged contract the Zenith Telephone
company charges that it's competitor
is monopoly, and that the contract
is in illegal and undue restraint or
trade, and is in violation Of the proyi-
sion of the Sherman anti-trust law.
- The Zenith company1 ~ II u1utth iii
claims that their lose OF business does
not come altogether from the refusal
of the railroads to use their tele-
phones, but that on account of the
existance of the alleged contract en-
ployes of the railroads are obliged to
use Bell phones in their homes, where
many Of them have a preference for
Zenith phones.
1t is claimed by the company that
number of railroad employees agreed
to pay for telephone in the North
ern Pacific round house so that they
1o1 1ol - I,,%v A1o1 -, 49,,
ever the Zenith phone, but that the
request was turned down by the rail.
road officials.
Uncle Sam May Investigate.
ItSis likely that the charge of the
Zenith company will be given the con
sideration and attention of the prope:
government officials in due time.
The American Telephone and Tele-
graph company of which the Duluth
company is a subsidiary is also having
its troubles. The Postal company, it's
competitor in the telegraph business,
demands the dissolution Of the "Tele-
phone and Telegraph Trust It is
waging campaign of education and
information through its own publica-
ton, The Postal Telegraph
1t declares that there exists a
! monopoly of electrical communication,
| which is Simple and effective as it
| is simple, 1t holds that the situa-
tion is one that should command the
attention of the government. !.