Opinion ID: 1483125
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Duration of the Alleged Conspiracy.

Text: The complaint fixed no time as to the inception of the alleged conspiracy but merely alleged its existence for more than eight years. The complaint was filed July 2, 1937, and the Institute was organized in August 1929. Evidently it was intended to fix the inception of the conspiracy charged at a time prior to the organization of the Institute. In fact, the case appears to have been tried upon the theory that the conspiracy had been in existence for as long as thirty-five years. Respondents assert that upon the filing in this court of the Commission's brief they learned for the first time that it was the Commission's position that the conspiracy charged came into existence with the organization of the Institute. Undoubtedly this assertion is sustained by the record and the Commission's brief. The Commission states: Each of the corporate petitioners [respondents]    for a substantial period of time, directly associated itself with and constituted a part of the combination through membership in the Institute   . At another point: The conspiracy charged was against the Institute and its members. It is what they did during the existence of the Institute that constituted the conspiracy and the order to cease and desist is directed only against those things. Referring to the Institute, the Commission further states: It is the chief common bond which united them, the common purpose which is the core of every conspiracy. Again the Commission states: The findings as to their Institute membership are sufficient to make them responsible for the Institute's program. It appears rather plain that the Commission first took a definite stand as to the time of the inception of the conspiracy when confronted with respondents' contention that the old Cement case was res adjudicata of the issues here involved, and that the Commission improperly considered evidence as to the practices and customs of the cement industry prior to the organization of the Institute. In reply to respondents' contention in this respect, the Commission states: As stated elsewhere we rely upon the acts of the Institute and its members since 1929 and upon our right to rebut petitioners' [respondents'] claim and evidence that the system was the byproduct of normal competitive evolution in prior years.