The Detroit times., 1913-03-04
CONSENT DECREE
FILED. AGAINST
BURROUGHS CO.
Agents of Big Adding Machine
Concern Enj0ined from ViO-
lating Sherman Law
PRESIDENT BOYER
ISSUES STATEMENT
Says If There Was Any Infrac-
ton Of Law it Was Without
Company's Knowledge

decree fled by consent was sign
ed by Judge Clarence w. Sessions In
the United States court, Monday after
noon. enjoining the agents and repre-.
sentatives Of the Burroughs Adding
Machine Co. from violating the Sher-
man antitrust act by unfair competi-
tive methods, and from acquiring con.
troll Of any competing manufacturing
concerns.
The DEGREES was agreed upon by
Otto Kirchner. OF Detroit, representing
the Burroughs company, and the de-
partment Of justice. represented by
Malcolm A. Coles. after q lopg fight In
Washington, and It was severely cliti-
cized by Judge Sessions when II was
presented for his signature. Monday
afternoon, because the Burroughs
Adding Machine Co., the party against
which the suit II brought, Is not for
mally named In the Injunction decree.
I'VE do not want any inference that
the Burroughs company has violated
the Sherman act" explained Mr..
Kirchner to the court. I'VE are or.
dered to issue instructions to all our
and they are enjoined by this decree
from violating those instructions.
This trouble arose through violation
OF instructions on the part Of one
of our representatives and the COM
pany does not believe that 1t Is re-
sponsible for that violation"
ITO use homely expression 1t
looks to me like beating the devil
around stump" said Judge Sessions.
II doubt very much II an injunction
which 10 not issued against the party
defendant could be upheld In court.
The only way we get at the agents of
the company Is through the corpora
ton itself, and It does not seem prop
er to allow the defendant to come into
court and lay the blame for violation
Of the law upon some represent alive. y
Gustavus A. Buders. Of st. Louis, a
director Of the Burroughs company,
suggested that the representatis es
were named az defendants in the suit.
Standish Backus. son-in-law Of Presi.
dent Boyer, OF the burroughs com.
pany, assisted Mr.. Kirchner in the
case.
The petition Of the government.
which is denied by the Burroughs
company, charges that the company
stined competition by acquiring the
stock Of the Universal Adding Ma.
chine Co., the Pike Adding Machine
Co., the Autograph Manufacturing CO.
and the Adder Machiner Co. at varl
GUS times and that q corps Of men
was maintained Ivy the sales depart.
ment to put competing machines out
of bu-iness and to use unfair methods
In selling.
The defendants In the case are:
Joseph Boyer. president; Benjamin
Chapman, secretary and treasurer;
Henry Wood, vicepresident and d.
rector: Claiborne w. Gooch. acting
vice-president and director; Alvan
Macauley, director: Emil p. Wenger
Andrew J. Lauver. Frank II. Dodge
Albert S. Herman, z. st. Elmo
Lewis, James G. Walker. Alfred J
Doughty, and Charles Macklin, all Of
Detroit; Edward Rector and Joseph
l.. Gillen, OF Chicago; Henry Wood
Gustavus A. Buder and Marcus A
Stith, Of st. Louis; Walter b. Man
ney, Larchmont. n. Y; Frank s
Wheeler, New York city: Louis a.
Hennick. Boston; p. X. Russell, Min
neapolis; A. w. SAKE. Pittsburgh. anc
Fred Il. Miller. Oklahoma City.
Joseph Boyer, president of the Bur
roughs Co., made the following state
ment:
We have heard rumors for some
time that agents OF the government
were making inquiries respecting the
conduct OF our business and appar