The New York herald., 1922-09-30
Apartment Building Costs
Affected by Prices OF
-
Manufacturers.
HAYWARD LEADS INQUIRY
Expects Defendants to Plead
Soon and Get an Early Trial
Under Trust Law.


four Of their officers in the Sanitary
Potters Association, controlling 50 per
cent. Of the industry in the United
States, have been indicted under the
Sherman antitrust law, II became
known last night. The indictment was
unsealed by Col William Hayward,
United States Attorney
Col. Hayward, who had directed an
investigation for six months. said the
indictment was returned last month
by the Federal Grand Jury. which re-
manned in special session to finish the
inquiry. but had been held under seal
pending an investigation into a COZ
lateral industry.
The indicted potteries are engaged
principally in the manufacture OF
porcelain and earthenware fixtures for
bathrooms. Since large proportion OF
their product goes into apartment
houses, Col. Hayward saio the action
is of vital concern to New YORK city
and the country at large.
Finds Prices Ont of Reason.
The indictment is in two counts, one
charging price fixing combination and
the other accusing the defendants OF
unlawfully restricting their sales 20
specially selected Legitimate jobbers.'
It is alleged that these defendants
manufacture and sell upward of 80 per
cent. of all the sanitary pottery mani-
faotured in the United States; that
through the medium OF their associa-
tion they refrained from competing
with each other as to the prices at
which sanitary pottery should be sold.
and that by common and concerted
action they exacted uniform. arbitrary
and non-competitive prices" Several
overt acts are alleged in the Southern
District of New York.
Regarding the second count, Col. Hay
ward said the selling practices of the
concerns tended to increase the price
TO ehes consumer beyond all reasonable
proportions. He continued:
This association had a rule whereby
its members were barred from selling
their merchandise directly to the builder
or architect or contractor, except
through the medium OF jobber or
plumber In other words, the manu-
facturer would conffne his sales to So
called Legitimate jobbers." The
plumbers profit would be added and
1t would then go TO the contractor.
Each one of these groups was placed In
position whereby it could. without
fear or competition, dictate its own
price and dictate it's own profit"
The case was presented to the Grand
Jury BY David l.. Podell. special as
sstant to the United States Attorney,
who said tha defendants will b. called
for pleading within two weeks and-that
the case will go to trial at an early
date
List of Defendants.
The twenty-three companiesand twenty
four individuals indicted are Abingdon
Sanitary Manufacturing Company. Alb
ngdon. Ill., and James +. Slater. presi-
dent and manager; Acme Sanitary Pot
terry Company, Trenton, and James A.
Dorety j., secretary: Is. o. T. Manu-
featuring Company, Trenton. and Bert
q. Tilden. president: Bowers Pottery
Company, Warrington, W. Va. and
John w. Bowers. president: Camden
Pottery Company. Camden. and T. Mum
100 Dobblns. president and treasurer;
Chicago Pottery Company, Chicago.
and Theodore H. Harker, secretary and
treasurer: Cochran-Drugan & CO., Tren-
ton. and Walter +. Drugan. vice -pres.-
dent Eljer Company, Cameron. w. Va,
and Ford City, Pa, and Raymond r..
Crane. vice president Kalamazoo Saai-
tary Manufacturing Company. Kalama-
zoo, Mich, and Edward v. Brigham.
vice-president and general manager
Kokomo Sanitary Pottery Company.
Kokomo. Ind, and G.. T.. Rhodes. gem
eral manager; keystone Pottery Com
pany. Trenton. and Harry ]. Lyons,
president and treasurer.
Also Lambertville Pottery Company,
Lambertville, N. j.. and Philip J.
Faherty. treasurer: John Maddox &
Sons Company. Trenton. and William,
r. Maddox, secretary: Thomas Mad
cocks Sons Company, Trenton. and
Archibald n. Maddox. president; Nd
tional- Helfrich Potteries Compan. Ev-
ansvile, Ind. and Harry T.. wca' cr.
secretary and general manager. Pa
cific Sanitary Manufacturing Company.
Richmond Cal. and Newton w. Stern.
president: Resoiute Pottery Company,
Trenton. and John Il. Smith. treasurer;
Sanitary Earthenv are Speciality Co..
Trenton. and Arthur Planter, Sr.. presi-
dent and general manager Standard
Sanitary Manufacturing Company. ko-
komo. Ind, and T.f'in. Ohio. and A.
! G. kalbfleisch ard Sigmund u. Killing,
. factory managers. and w. G. Chamber
lain, sales ma, .ages; Trenton Potteries
Company IT eaton, and Elzey 5. AitlSin.
general mar age; Universal Sanitary
Manufacturing Company. New Castle.
Pa: Wheeling Sanitary Manufacturing
Company Wheeling. w. Va. and j. T..
Wright. residen. and keneral manager,
anda Horton Pottery Company, Chilli
cothe, o.. and Chris Horton, president
and treasurer