ITEMS OF INTEREST March 15, 1913 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

The federal government has filed a civil antitrust suit seeking the dissolution of the alleged attempted monopoly by the "Coates interests" of Great Britain of the thread trade of the United States, including that of the American Thread Company, itself a consolidation of fourteen American companies. Following a civil antitrust suit filed against the Burroughts Adding Machine Company, charging the company with monopolizing interstate and foreign trade, a degree was agreed upon terminating the alleged unfair practises to stifle competition. The five and a half million dollar company was ordered to instruct its agents in writing to desist from interfering with competitors, and is forbidden to acquire a controlling interest in any competing concern without the consent of the court. The so-called coal tar trust has informed the department of justice that, although they specifically deny the restraint of trade and monopoly alleged, they will consent to a decree being entered against then "in order to avoid litigation." Dissolution of the Corn Products Refining Company, an alleged starch, glucose, and syrup trust, is sought by the federal government in a civil antitrust suit just filed charging the eighty million dollar combination with entering conspiracies and contracts to destroy competition in violation of the Sherman law. The United States circuit court of appeals, in a decision just handed down, declares the Eastern States Lumber Association and allied companies to be illegal combinations in restraint of trade.

On July 1, the collect-on-delivery feature will be added to the parcel-post department of the postal service of the country. An order putting this into effect was signed by Postmaster-General Hitchcock. Under the approved regulations a parcel bearing the required amount of parcel postage-stamps may be sent anywhere in the country and the amount due from the purchaser collected and remitted by the post-office department. The regulations provide that the parcel must bear the amount due from the addressee, and the collection will be made provided the amount is not in excess of one hundred dollars. The fee will be ten cents, to be affixed by the sender in parcel-post stamps. This also will insure the parcel to an amount not to exceed fifty dollars.

The conference of the Society for Electrical Development, Inc., held in the Engineering Societies' building in New York, on March 4 and 5, brought together representatives of more than ten billion dollars in a campaign of education. Every branch of the electrical trade was represented. The society was organized a few weeks ago for the purpose of educating the public up to a more general use of electricity in all its forms, and the conference was called to make definite plans for carrying on the work.

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