New-York tribune., 1920-08-31
Grand Jury Here Returns
Bill Against 80 Big
Steamship Companies,
Is Brokerage Concerns
$50 individuals
Also Are Included
Conspiracy to Fix Import
and Export Rates and
Form Monopoly Charge

One of the most far-reaching indict-
ments ever returned here for alleged
combination and conspiracy in re-
straint of trade was handed up yester-
day by the Federal grand jury to Judge
William B. Sheppard, in the United
States District Court for the Southern
District of New York.
Thirty-nine steamship companies, in
cluding such corporations as the Inter
national Mercantile Maripe Atlantic
Transport Company Anchor Line, Gu
nard Steamship Company, French Line,
Furness, Witty & Co., the United Fruit
Company and the National Steam Navi-
cation Company of Greece; seventy
five freight forwarding and freight
brokerage concerns, and more than $50
individuals, officers or agents of the
defendant companies, are named in the
indictment.
They are charged with conspiring,
through membership either in the
Transatlantic Associated Freight Con-
ferences, an organization with offices
at SO Pearl Street, or in the Steam
ship Freight Brokers' Association, to
fix both interstate and foreign import
and export rates on lumber, coal oil
and grain 'and other commodities" in
violation of the Sherman law.
Indictment No Surprise
No great surprise was manifested in
shipping circles over the indictment
Charles c. Birmingham. attorney for
the Transatlantic Freight Conference
said that more than a year ago the
government asked for the minutes of
the conference. with all documents re-
lating to freight brokerage.
The request was complied with, he
added, although, in accordance with the
shipping act Of 1916. all minutes and
agreements had been transmitted regu-
larly to the Shipping Board at Wash
ington.
simultaneously with the handing up
of the Indictment, United States A.
torney Francis G. CaFey and Special
Assistants Cutler and Joyce filed suit
in equity, praying for a permanent in
junction against the defendants and
asking the dissolution of the Trans
atlantic Associated Freight Confer
ences, representing the steamship com
panies, and the Steamship Freight
Brokers' Association, which is made
up OF the Gefendant forwarding and
brokerage companies end their officers
and agents
The indictment recites that upward
of so per cent of the interstate and
foreign commerce of the nation "moves
to or passes through the Port of New
York." that so per cent "of the said
so per cent is handled by freight brok-
ers and forwarders," seventy-fve OF
whom are members of the Steamship
Freight Brokers Association, and chat
practically all of the said so per cent
is transported by the steamship com
panies herein made defendants"
1t is charged in the true bill that the
acts complained of had their origin in
January, 1917. and that the defendants
have conspired to monopolize the i'm
port, export and interstate business
continuously thereafter to and in
cluding the date of the filing of this
Indictment"
The means by which the objects of
the conspiracy alleged were carried
out are recounted briefly as follows:
Holding meetings of representa-
tives of virtually all of the defendant
steamship companies.
Conferring and communicating by
letters and otherwise.
Agreeing to revive the said Steam
ship Freight Brokers' Association.
Agreeing not to permit any freight
Continued OH pape sjx)