United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

American Column & Lumber Co. v. United States, 257 U.S. 377 (1921)

American Column & Lumber Co. v. United States

No. 71

Argued October 20, 21, 1920

Restored to docket for reargument February 28, 1921

Reargued October 12, 13, 1921

Decided December 19, 1921

257 U.S. 377

Syllabus

An " Open Competition Plan" under which manufacturers of one-third of the hardwood output of the country exchanged full and minute disclosures of the details of their business, including stocks on hand, production, shipments, prices, names of purchasers, etc., and their views on future market conditions, by means of reports and letters from the several members to a central office and distribution to them therefrom of analytical digests of the matters thus furnished, with significant suggestions as to future production and prices, by an expert agent, these means being supplemented by frequent meetings and discussions by the members -- is found from the evidence to have been actuated by the purpose and to have had the effect of restricting competition in interstate commerce by curtailing production and increasing prices, and is held a combination and conspiracy violating the Anti-Trust Act. P. 257 U. S. 399.

263 F.1d 7 affirmed.

Direct appeal from a decree of the district court granting a permanent injunction under the Anti-Trust Act.

Page 257 U. S. 391