Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-21
OLD SUGAR SUIT
TO BE DROPPED
BY GOVERNMENT,
Attorney General Says Trust
No Longer Exists in That
Industry.
COMPETITION RESTORED

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
WASHINGTON, Dec 21.-The Govern
ment has taken steps to dispose finally
of the antitrust suit pending against
the American Sugar Refining Company
since 1910 That action was taken after
an investigation by the Department or
Justice. which disclosed 1.-The consumer
Of sugar now can rest assured com
petitive conditions in the industry have
been entirely restored and the price he
pays for his sugar in the future will he
the result Of natural unrestrained com
petition"
Attorney General Daugherty announced
he had approved a draft of a decree
which would dispose of the case and
which will he submitted to the United
States District Court in New York soon.
The Department started the suit in No
vember, 1910, and taking of testimony
proceeded actively for several years. The
attorney general ordered the inquiry
a few months ago, believing the fact the
suit had been kept pending had brought
about a distintegration of the alleged
monopoly.
HOLDS CANDIDATES
HAVE CHANGED.
THE decree finds in substance" Attor-
ney General Daugherty said in a state
ment, "a combination in restraint of the
trade and commerce in refining sugar
existed at and prior to the filing of the
petition IL 1910, but recognizes the
changes which have occurred in the in
dustTy, may be largely attributable to
the tendency Of this suit. The American
Sugar Refining Company has sold the
stocks Of many corporations, its owner
ship Of which was challenged by the petit
ton, and other companies; has Invested
itself Of a portion of its holdings, and Of
control Of those companies so it no longer
occupies the dominant position in the in
dustry it held in 1910.
THE decree fully protects the interests
Of the public by prohibiting the American
Sugar Refining Company from taking any
part whatsoever in the operation or man
agement Of the National Sugar Refining
Company, the Great Western Sugar Com
pany or the Michigan Sugar Company,
IN which II now owns minority interest
and further prohibits the American Sugar
company directly or indirectly, from in
creasing its proportionate interest in any
such companies. The decree further en-
Joins all the defendants from continuing
the combination in the marketing Of re-
fined sugar.
CONCERN NO
LONGER MONOPOLY.
ut is believed the American Sugar Re
fning Company IS no longer n trust or
monopoly At the time the suit was
commenced the American and its allied
interests controlled about - per cent
Of the refined sugar industry Of the
United States. Now It controls only
about - per cent Under the change of
management. which took place about the
beginning Of this suit. the company has
cndeavored to comply with the law aard
the Governments requirements 1t has,
during recent years, entirely discontin-
ucd the practices which werc the cause
Of the chief complaints against it in
the suit
"Thls decree, which finally disposes OF
such long pending litigation. doubtless
will prove beneficial to all branches OF
the sugar industry in this country. in
Guiding both cane and beet sugar, and
it Is hoped it will be some benefit to the
world wide sugar situation. including
that Of Cuba."-Copyrlght 1921, by Pub
lie Ledger Company.