New-York tribune., 1922-01-07

people who were in that combination
and that the General Electric consented
TO the decree declaring the combina.
ton an unlawful conspiracy against the
antitrust laws?'
"Yes. sir" replied Harper.
And after the decree was entered
the General Electrc's grip upon the
business became greater than evcr?"
Mr. Untermyer went on
II believe they did" Harper an
swered. "The situation to-day is that
80 per cent or better of the electric
| lamp business of this country"
"Do you know that it is 90 per cent ~
INQUIRED Mr. Untermyer
81 don't know the exact figures" said
Harper.
And do you know they are claiming
the other Q per cent? qucried the
counsel.
"They probably believe they are en-
titled to it," commented Harper. 81
know they arc trying to make every
body stop making lamps"
Harper said that when he was n
partner in the firm of the Howard
Miniature Lamp Company, a represent
ative of the Electric Company in
formed him that if the firm wanted
to continue making miniature bulbs,
ut would be better to become a licen-
see of the General Electric Company,
paving certain royalties, in return for
which we were to be free from litiga-
ton which might arise in connection
with patents"
Little Money for Law Suits
owe had lit money for lawsuits.
so we agreed to the proposition" >"
Harper testified. Subsequently, the Cen
eral Electric Company began to trouble
the Harper firm with the license matter,
and eventually they had to sell their
business to the Electric Company The
Harper concern was making $4,000 a
year for the witness, according to tho
testimony. The Electric Company,
after taking over the plant. offered
Harper according to the record, a lob
as manager there for $4,000 a year.
Under the license which the Howard
company had from the Electric Com
pany, according to the testimony. tho
former concern was permitted to make
so many lamps yearly, which were t,
be sod at price set by the Electric
Company
In 1907. said Harper, when he ap-
Piled to the Harrison Lamp Company,
controlled by the Electric. f0r pe.mis
sion 70 use 4 new fi'ament he was .old
that the German and Austrian patents
n thls tllamcNt Were controlled bv the
Electric and that he could not use
them.
In connection with his present busi-
ness Harper said that he did a bust
ness of $l,2oo,0oo in 1920. Wioa i he
proposed to do business as a licensec
OF the General Electric in order to
avoid costly lawsuits, he was told that
ne could only do q business of SiSO.O0O.
ne said. When he asked permission to
do $1,2O0,000 business, ne said he
was laughed at.
Threat to Clip Wings
with whom did you negotiate fer
that license?' asked Mr.. Untermver
With Mr. Burrows"
Dld ne give you any reason why he
wouldn't let you do larger business ."
res, certainly, he said among ether
Things ne was going to clip my wings"
"Iou are contesting the right of tine
General Electric to interfere with YOUR
business ."
eyes, sir"
Have you had any more intimations
Of wing-clipping since your last talk
with Mr.. Burrows ?"
only when the question of the pro-
ductlon OF Ford lamp came up. Mr..
Burrows made the statement that he
would spend million dollars to stop
my making The lamps. Up to date I
stu continue to make them
larper said he did a business of
81 I'4Oo,C00 year, which returned him
profit of S325 600 on an invested
capital of S230O00. He saws he en-
ploys from thirty to Forty workmcn
IN his shops and that he has weekly
pay roll of from $4,000 to $500.
He explained that miniature head.
lights for automobiles which he sells
to lobbers for 16 cents, cost the con-.
sumer 81 % cents. Tail and rear lights
for automobiles, which he sells for six
cents, consumers pay 35 cents for,
He said that certain decorative bu)hs
which he sells for 25 cents the Electric
company has listed for S1.oS. He saws
ne has to pay the Electric company