The Raymer enterprise., 1920-09-02
y. 8. GRAND JURY HOLDS NEARLY
ALL BIG TRANSATLANTIC
coMpxN,Es.
VIOLATE TRUST LAWS
CONSPIRACY AND REsTRAlNT OF
TRADE Is ALLEGED IN JURY
FINDINGS.

Western Newspaper Union News Services.
New York, Aug. 3l.-Forty-two
steamship companies and freight brok-
ers, including virtually all the big
transatlantic lines, were indicted by
the federal grand jury here on charges
Of conspiracy and restraint Of trade in
violation Of the Sherman antitrust
law.
The indictments included the Inter-
national Mercantile Marine, Atlantic
Transport, Cunard Steamship Compan-
les, Ltd, Anchor Line, Booth-American
Shipping Corporation, Compagnie Gen
erale Transatlantique. Kerr Steamship
Company. members Of the transatlan-
tic associated freight conferences and
directors Of the Steamship Freight
Brokers Association.
An Injunction and dissolution suit
against the defendants named In the
indictments as members Of the Steam
ship Freight Brokers Association and
the Associated Freight Conferences
was entered simultaneously.
The indictment charged and the pc
tition In the suit alleged that the de-
PENDANTS on Jan. l, 1917, conspired and
have continuously violated the Sher-
man law by restraining interstate trade
and foreign commerce In grain, oil, lum-
Der, coal and other commodities and
manufactured articles produced
throughout the United States and in
foreign countries.
The Indictment cited that upward Of
30 per cent Of the foreign trade and
commerce In commodities and articles
named pass through this port; 10 per
cent Of which, It was said, is handled
by freight brokers and fOrwarders. OF
the commodities handled by the latter,
1t was charged, upwards of so per cent
Is handled by about seventy-five
freight brokers and forwarders who
are members Of the Steamship Freight
Brokers' Association and is transport
ed by the defendant steamship com.
panies.
The Indictment alleged that the
steamship companies included In the
Transatlantic Associated Freight con.
ferences and the brokers and forward
ers Included In the Steamship Freigh
Brokers' Association entered into
agreements not to permit any freight
broker or f0rwarder to become a mem
her Of the association unless he agreed
to observe the constitution and bylaws
Of the Steamship Freight Brokers' As
ISOLATION. II also alleged that pros
pective member had TO abide by the
freight rates offered or quoted by the
authorized agents OF the steamship
companies.
The indictment further asserted that
the defendants agreed to blacklist" all
freight brokers and forwarders "whO
We're not acceptable to or approved by
the defendant steamship companies
and the board Of directors of the
Steamship Freight Brokers' Associa-
tion, and by suspension or expulsion
from the association agreed to control,
dominate and direct the course Of the
principal part Of trade and commerce
IN transportatIng shipping or forward
Ing freight throughout the United
States and to and from foreign coun-
tries.
ny 10 doing" the Indictment con-
tinued, "the defendants restrained. pre-
vented and eliminated all competition
In such trade and commerce.
II was charged that the defendants
agreed to discriminate agains. freight
brokers and forwartlers by refusing to
pay any brokerage fee" to an. person
not member Of the associ,,lion, and to
control, and dominate through the or
ganization and rules Of the New York
Produce Exchange, OF which the freight
brokers und f0rwarders were saId to
be required to he members.