Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-02

WACO. April 4.
The Standard oil trust prosecution
came up In a new phase this after
noon by the filing OF suit In the
Fifty-fourth district court by the state
OF Texas against the Waters Pierce oil |
company, The petition Is very
lengthy and is addressed To Judge s. Il.
Scott. 1t recltes the history OF the
Standard on trust since It's formation,
Jan. p 1889. and alleges that the de-
PENDANT was a charter member OF tho
trust and has continued since that
time. that under the trust agreement
the gulf states were allotted to II FOR tho
sale Of the oil OF tho trust. II being
given the exclusive sales within that
territory: that the profits OF the trust
since its formation thirteen years ngo
are $500. 900 900, that this was admitted
by the trust, and that the value OF the
trust certificates is $500. 900 600. that the
Standard Oh trust owns ana controls
all the stock OF the defendants. that the
trustees. agents ANA officers Of the
trust are the presidents, Vice presi-
dents general managers aud repre-
sentatlves Of all the great trunk lines
OF the country and OF Texas, and that
they operate the AFFAIRS OF said trust
and said trunk lines for the mutual
benefit and advantage OF each other
and To the oppression Of all competing
oil companies. fixing high and low
prices as the occasion permits or de-
mands, The entire method OF
operatin In detail IL set forth
stated that Henry C. Pierce OF
81. Louis, president OF the defendant.
admitted in n congressional investlga-
ton that the gulf states were allotted
TO the defendant as It's exclusive terri
tory and that the trust owned all of
the stock Of defendants. John ID.
Rockefeller and others arN alleged TO
have made the same admissions. These
admissions are alleged to constitute u
clear violation OF the nnti-rust statute
OF Texas. section 10 Of which provides
a penalty OF $50 per day for each day'a
violation OF the law.
This statue went Into effect March 30,
1889. The petition demands Judgment
against the defendants for Si09, 500, tho
amount OF the penalties accrued since
the passage OF the law and also de-
mands forfeiture OF the permit OF tho
defendant to do business In Texas. The
law provides that suit mny be brought
by the county attorney In any county,
where the trust Is operating. County
AAAAulutN d. W. lNNiNI lHb
suit and II assisted by Messrs. Henry
and Strlbbllng, the former of whom as
assistant nttorney-general, began theI
prosecution OF the trust a few months
ago by indictments. Discussing tho
filing OF the suit Mr.. Henry says;
This Is the most effective way of
reaching the trust. II also allows us
TO get Jurisdiction without trouble and
Introduce proof we could not reach in
criminal prosecution. Proof of the
admissions made by the officers OF the
defendent and OF the trust in the recent
congressional investigation is all that
Is necessary to show n violation OF the
antl-trust statute. This Is the first
suit to recover penalties brought under
this statue and will thoroughly test tho
law. We have abundant testimony to
prove the allegations OF the petition"
The Ming OF this suit has created q
great deal OF interest II Is taken az
evidence that vigorous warfare on
the trust Is intended.