Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-18
CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
FOR ASSOCIATED PRESS
Attorney-General Finds No Cause for
Action by Federal Authorities
Under Antitrust Laws.
CHARGES MADE BY n. Y. SUN
Complaint That News Gathering As
ISOLATION IL Combination In Re-
straint OF Trade Falls to Ground
After Long Investigation.


ues against tho Associated Press under
INC antitrust law.
Tho attorney-gcncrars letter. dated
March ~, and made public to-day fol-
lows:
have given consideration to the
Complaint against the Associated Press
Tor alleged violations OF the Federal
antitrust act presented to my pre-
necessor by you as counsel for the
Hnn Printing and publishing Associa-
ton
The Associated Press was organized
4hder the membership corporations law
81 the State OF New York. According
10 It's certificate OF incorporation It is
An association Of certain persons,
Nno, owning or representing certain
hewsrapcrs. unite in a mutual and CO.
lucrative organization for the collec-
I ION and Interchange, with greater
"conomy and efficiency, of information
ana intelligence for publication In tho
hewspapers owned or represented by
them
OBJECTS OF ASSOCIATION
STATED n CERTIFICATE
IN" objects Of tho association as
stated In tho certificate arc:
To gather. obtain and procure by
us own instrumentnlities by exchange
With Its members and by any other ap-
FTopriatc means any and all Kinds of
lnformation and Intelligence tele-
graphic and otherwise. for tn. use and
heneftt OF itR members. and to furnish
ana supply the same to lis members
Tor publication in the newspapers
owned or represented by them, under
and subject to such regulations. condi-
nj
Scrlbed by the bylaws: and the mutual
operation. benefit and protection OF
IS members
The certificate further provides
'hnt:
The corporation Is not TO make a
front nor TO make or declare div,-
lends. and Is not TO engage in the bust
nsss OF selling Intelligence. nor franc
IN The same.
Those eligible for membership arc
mus described In the bylaws. Article
p section /:
The sol" or the par, owner OF a
newspapcr. or an executive officer o. n
eorporat'cn. limited liability company
"r ictnt stock or other association
which IS the owner OF newspaper
mali hc eligible AS a member OF this
o'roration IN the way and upon and
subJect TO The conditions and lim!ts-
Non5 hereinafter specified. provid ed
nat not more than one person at n
line shall be- eligible by reason Of con-
necfion with any one newspaper. No
other person shall be eligible
Members may be elected BY the
Affirmative vote of not less than four
Hf'hs or all the members OF the corpo-
ration thy-laws Article g. Soc H.
r. m 81.
NO board OF directors when no meet
ing OF the members OF the corporation
5 IN session, but no applicant for mem
1 Nership can be elected by the directors
l over the opposition OF any member en-
l titled 10 tho right OF protest Cart. 3.
I Sec p. The right OF protest Is the
i ight 10 object 10 the admission OF
new members from a given territorial
district Cart. 3. Sec. 81. II can ONLY
be conferred BY the affirmative vote OF
| s"ven-e!ghths OF all the members
AT 3. Soc. O..
The right OF protest has no appli
cation TO the election OF applicants by
tour-htths vote OF the members them
selves
Each member is entitled 10 on.
vote by virtue OF his membership cart
l., sec. -. and nlso vote for each
s2S OF the bonds of the association
Registered In his name up to 1000 pro-
Iv!ded he waive interest on the bonds
Hart. ~, Sec 81.
/ The AFFAIRS OF the corporation are
Imanhged by fifteen directors who are
telected by members Of the corporation
land must themselves be members CART
Secs /. 2. A..
The cost OF maintaining the news
Service Of the corporation and all other
Expenses OF the corporation are appor-
eioned among the members by the
board OF directors in such manner as
T. may deem equitable CART Q, Sec II
BROADLY stated, the news distributed
\ ly The Associated Press comes to II in
Two ways: first. from the reports mado
T. II by various members OF happenings
4 T. their respective localities, and, sec
i md, from correspondence. reporters
" tnd other agencies employed by it di-
h vectly. The news OF the world thus
n ArcGcht together is then distributed by
Ihs Associated Press to its members
II Irincipally, of course. by telegraph. To
II HAT end It leases and operates in the
Y }eighhorhood OF 10000 miles OF tele-
II traph fines.
II InINCIPAL GROUNDS
FOR COMPLAINT OF Sun
The principal grounds OF complaint
| Ire
"i. The the members OF tho Asso
| Hated Press are prevented. or at least
| lsriously hindered from obtaining news
slly purchase or otherwise from any
! ltval agency.
sjJ 20. That the members Of the ASCOT
I led Press are prohibited from fur
5shing the news collected by them re-
hectively to any newspaper which Is
lot member.
80 That through the operation of the
OF protest above described a
Iewspaper in given locality applying
tr membership cannot be elected with
HiIit tho consent Of the members In that
Reality.
Assuming that the kind of service
which tho Associated Press is en-
tged Is interstate commerce "a qucs-
I'm not free from doubt) 7 am. nnyar