The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-13
State May Force Eleven Com
panies From Kansas.
Will Also Seek Collection Fines
Under Law.
BOTH CIVIL and CRIMINAL SUITS
More Than Twenty Men May
Be in Drag Net.
Suits Expected to
Follow TOday's Conference.

Trouble is being piled up for eleven
bridge companies and their repre-
sentatives in the alleged bridge trust.
Both civil custer proceedings seeking
big fines and criminal actions against
representatives of the companies will
probably be filed as a result of to-
days conference in the office of s. M.
Brewster, attorney general.
The cases against the members of
the alleged bridge trust will proba bly,
be filed in the next few days Bulky
evidence gathered by A. M. Keene of
general, is this afternoon being pre-
scented to Brewster and petitions in
the case will probably be filed at once.
Before entering the conference this
afternoon Keene declined to discuss
the probable action of the state. Re-
Gently, though, Keene sent long let
ter to Brewster in which he outlined
the evidence which he had gathered
through inquisitionS and several
months investigation. In this letter
sufficient evidence could be produced
to establish the existence of combine
or agreement among the bridge build
ing companies.
were to the effect that the action
against the bridge trust would become
one of the most sensational custer pro-
ceedings filed in Kansas in number
of years Should the state follow the
plan apparently contemplated by the
special investigators, both civil and
criminal actions are quite probable.
Warrants for Twenty Men.
One statement today was to the eff
feet that probably twenty or more
representatives of bridge companies
doing business in this state might be
prosecuted criminally as a result of
the recent probe. Names of neither
~, individuals
would be discussed by state attorneys
preceding the conference.
I'VE will not make a statement until
after the conference" said keene, who
admitted that he came to Topeka to
discuss final plans with the attorney
general That action was contem-
plated was admitted by Keene. He
declined, however, to outline probable
plans.
Suits i'm Supreme Court.
Suits against the bridge companies
will probably be filed in the supreme
court. These petitions will ask that
the companies be, ousted from doing
business in Kansas. They will also
ask that the property of the companies
in this state be levied against for the
collection of fines amounting to thou
sands of dollars, co1lectable under the
state antitrust law.
Criminal actions may be filed stimuli
Ian0OQS1y. "A lOIS isl OI IldIHcSs VI
bridge company representatives &C
cused of law violation is known to be
in the possession of the state prose
cutors. The state law provides for a
prison sentence of antitrust ViOlatOrs
under certain conditions. In the Grim
inal cases the individuals will not only
face prison or Jail sentence, but also
heavy fines.
Keene was today asked il petitions
in the contemplated cases had been
prepared. He stated that none of the
papers in any cases which might be
contemplated were ready for filing
The conference today, he said, was
reviewing the evidence gathered in
the last six months.
Luten Would Testify.
Daniel B. Luten. head of the giant
steel and reinforced concrete bridge
company which controls numerous
patent rights, has notified S. M. Brew
ster, attorney general, that he will
gladly give any information at his dis
posal. Luten offers to come to Kan
sass at his own expense and testify. II
is probable that his offer may be ac-
cepted and that the Indianapolis
bridge magnate will be asked to come
to Topeka.
In letter sent to the attorney gem
eral by registered mail under date OF
October IL, Luten says:
Denies His Connection
The newspapers of Kansas have
published numerous references to. an
alleged bridge trust and your investi-
cation thereof authorized by the last
legislature. If I can be of any assist
ance you may call me as a witness in
any of your investigations, and I will
gladly come to Kansas at my own ex-
pense and testify without reservation
and will waive immunity
Many of the newspaper references
either state or imply that you and
your assistants charge that am con
nected with the alleged bridge trust
L am not connected with any trust,
but am in possession of information
that should enable you to prove vioIa-
ton of the Kansas antitrust law on
the part of certain bridge engineers in
your state. Also, I have Information
regarding "A conspiracy by the state
engineers of Kansas and Iowa and
others, to discredit my patents by cir
cuiating rumors that am part of a
bridge trust
m n