The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-10
Topeka Soda Fountain Combine
Is To Be Investigated.
Believe State Antitrust Laws
Are Being Violated.
MANY ICE co. AGREEMENTS
Topeka Dealers Said To Be Di-
viding Their Territory.
Other Towns in State Have
Their "PrOfit Deals"

Antitrust suits against Kansas ice
combines and promoters of soft drink
agreements" were indicated by gos-
sip today in state house circles. While
it was stated that no complaint has
been laid before state departments,
evidence of alleged selling agreements
are said to be in direct violation of the
antitrust laws of Kansas.
That the state contemplates the use
of its dragnet to secure facts and evl-
dence in antitrust actions. was strong
ly indicated by men familiar with state
department activities u is quite
probable the dragnet WI be first
dropped in Topeka. But the search for
evidence of agreements, combinations
and pooling of interests will extend to
other sections of the stat. In the
crusade against profit hogs the state
may also take a look into the activi-
ties of various mercantile companies
and commission firms. Wide mar
gins between the selling price by pro-
ducers and the prices quoted the uli-
mate consumer are said to have arous-
ed suspicious of state officials.
Clean Cut Cases.
Several state house authorities to-
day declared that the ice and soft
drink agreements-as outlined by
publicity of operations in Topeka
constitute clean cut and antitrust
violations. The agreement of soft
drink merchants concern twenty to
fifty per cent increases in prices, are
claimed to have been clear case of
a combination in restraint of trade, as
defined by the statutes of this state.
Violations under this act are subject
to heavy fine and even imprisonment.
The alleged combination of ice
dealers in certain sections of Topeka,
is just one of the evidences of manip-
ulations which have come before state
officials. The case presented in To-
peka, where manufacturers are all
legged to have allotted selective dis
tricts in which competitions would be
withheld, is claimed to be one eff the
really fragrant violations of law. This
action, if established in court, would
parallel the alleged activities of the
so-called bridge trust, against which
antitrust suits are now pending in
the supreme court. In the bridge
trust cases, the state has alleged that
the bridge companies allotted the
counties among members of the al
legged trust. Competitive bids were
not offered in these restrictive dis
tricts, it was asserted, and while other
companies placed bids for contracts
such bids We're always so high that
the favorite for the district received
the cream of the business and the
bulk of contracts.
Many Ice Combines.
In many localities in the state, it is
their interests during the last few
weeks. Their activities followed the
defeat last winter of the municipal ice
bill before the state legislature. If
evidence is presented showing exist
ence of agreements and combinations
as alleged. there is a very positive
feeling in state house circles that a
number of antitrust suits will he
| filed.
Price agreements by Topeka soft
drink merchants are said to have
aroused curiosity as to conditions in
ether portions of the state. AS re-
! suit of the facts already presented
there is % belief that soda fountain
men will be called on the carpet and
given an opportunity to explain and
/ define their losses under the old rates
and the necessity for an agreement as
/ to new rate cards.
| Following the investigation of the
| ice and soft drink situation, is also a
prospect for probe of food prices
| 1t is reported that merchants who
| bought flour at top quotations are
seeking in some localities to initiate
| prices to protect against losses as a
| result of the new wheat crop. Prof
! its in potatoes and other necessities
/ may also be looked into