Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-15
Moody Files Petition in
Equity in st. Louis
Court.
II COMPANIES NAMED
Would EnjoIn Under Sherm IN
Act---RnckefelIer Indicted
at Findlay, Ohio.

st. Louis, Nov. ia petition in
stituting suit against the Standard Oil
company was filed in the United
States court here this morning by
Frank 3. Kellogg, special counsel for
the government. The defendants now
have a month in which to enter their
appearance and an additional month in
which to file answer.
STOCK OFF 20 POINTS.
New York, Nov. 15.-The Standard
Oil company today declared a quarter
ly dividend of $40 share. Shortly
after the declaration the stock sold off
20 points.
Moody Starts suit.
Washington Nov. 15.-Attorney Cen
eral Moody today, acting through the
resident United States district attor
ney. instituted proceedings against the
Standard Oil company of New Jersey
under the Sherman antitrust act. by
filing in the federal court at St. Louis
a petition in equity against it and its
30 constituent corporations and part
nershils, and John ID. Rockefeller. Will |
liam Rockefeller. Henry H. Rogers. |
Henry NJ. Flagler. John d. Archbold. |
Oliver H. Payne. and Charles VI. Pratt, !
asking that the combination be declar-
ed unlawful and in future enjoined |
from entering into any contract or com
binatiOn in restraint of trade, etc.
Handle 90 Per Cent.
In n statement made public today
Moody says the investigation conduct
ed By sfessrs Kellogg and Morrison.
special assistant attorneys general, by
direction of the president. was pToduc-
tive of sufficient information to show
that the Standard companies produce.
transport and sell 80 per cent of the
refined oil for both domestic use and
export.
Policy Continuous.
The statement further says: "This
share of business was procured by a
course of action which. beginning in
1870, has continued under direction of
the same persons. in the main Cnaming
several individual defendants) down to
the present time; that the design
throughout of persons having control
of the enterprise has been to suppress
competition in production. transporta-
tion and sale of refined oil; that, aid
ed by the establishment of railroad
rates for transportation which discrim
mated in favor of the corporations I
whose stock was held by the holding :
company, that the company has been
enabled to obtain, in large sections of
the country, a monopoly of the sale of
refined oil. with the result that prices
to the consumer within the territory
where the monopoly prevails are very !,
much higher than within the territory
where competition to some extent still
exists
Hints at Other Action.
In conclusion. Moody says:
'-The question whether any action of
n different nature should be taken is !.
reserved for future consideration. Tne /.
controversy is now pending in the
courts, and further comment by this
department or by any one connected :
with it would obviously be improper
and unfair"
Texas wouId Oust, Also. II
St Louis, Nov. 15.-Hearing of the !,
of the defense in the custer =
suit of the state of Missouri against !.
the Standard, Waters-Pierce, and Re =
public Oil companies was resumed to- :
day. :
Assistant Attorney General Lightfoot
of Texas today began taking deposi-
tions in the suit brought by the state >
of Texas TO Dust the Waters-Pierce Oil
company from doing business in that +
state.
Four Others Named.
Findlay, Ohio, Nov 15.-John d.
and four other persons. G
whose names We're not divulged, were q
indicted yesterday by the grand jury =
before which the recent Standard Oil :,
inquiry was reopened at the request of !,
County Prosecutor David.
Bench warrants for Rockefeller and :,
the others indicted were issued imme- :,
diately and placed in the hands of
Sheriff Groves, who at once went to
Cleveland. where it is supposed they
are to be served. IA
Indictments Come Surprise. II
The indictments came as complete Il
1t had been believed that the 81
grand jury was investigating only ru- D
noIs of attempts to bribe members of g
he petit jury which recently found the a