The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-11-12
HOT AFTER OIL TRUST
Government Considering osIsssion
Of Criminal Suits AgaInsA j
Standards Heads.
MAY FOLLOW CIVIL ACTIONS.


Several Courses Likely TO Be Adapssd
In Fighting Alleged Conspiracy BY
Giant corporation-PenaIsy 9f sfso,-
100000 Suggested te Ra
Begun In St. Louis.
Washington, Nov. 12.-The question
whether John D. Rockefeller, 81. 81.
Rogers, John D. ArchboId and ether
officials of the Standard OIL company
shall be criminally prosecuted on the
charge Of maintaining a combination
in violation of the penal clause Of the
Sherman antitrust act win be fa44aer
considered at an important conference
at the department of Justice. ThoSe
participating in the conference VIII be
Attorney General Moody, his assistant,
Mr. Purdy, and Special Attorneys
Morrison and Kellogg.
The president and many adniaiotra.
ton officials strongly urge erImiEas
prosecution of such men In tha Stand
ard as are held responsible for its al
legged violation Of law There is a dif-
ference of opinion as to whether such
criminal prosecution should be brought
at the same time that the civil suit is
filed or deferred until the trial of that
action develops just what officers are
chiefly responsible for the combination.
Four Courses Considered.
The following propositions are undeF
consideration.
First.-An application for an injuno-
tion to dissolve the Standard OH oom-
pany as a combination In restraint OF
trade, such prosecution to follow Iines
closely analogous to the Northern Sc
curities prosecution.
Second-CriminaI prosecution Of the
corporation fer violation Of the Shex-
man antitrust act.
Third Criminal prosecution Of elza
officials Of the Standard for Violation
: OF the Sherman act.
Fourth.-Griminal prosecution Of the
officials for violation Of United States
statute $40, which prohibits and De.
nelizes conspiracy against the United
States.
The question Of Jurisdiction was also
under discussion, with view to deter-
mining in what couys to bring the hi
tai action, Cleveland and ST. Louis ap-
pearing to be the most favored districts
for this purpose. st. Louis was finally
chosen.
Why So. Louis Was Selected.
Many reasons are given why sc.
Louis IS preferred. Enat city is con
vehient for the witnesses, as it 10 TIE
district within whtch the most haSrant
viCIations OF the Standard OIL company
are alleged to have been committed.
The sentiment of the people in that
section OF the country is believed to be
with the government.
Already indictments containing up-
ward of 10000 counts for violation CT
the anti-rsbate law have been returned
against the Standard, and for osoh
proved count the penalty consists OF
a fine Of not less than $4,000 or moEg
than $4,000, so that If. as some Of tka
federal officials believe possible, the
entire number OF counts are proved
and a penalty halfway between the
minimum and the maximum 10 I'M
posed the Standard will have to pay
$150,000.000 in fines and costs.
All Of the indictments, it is asserted,
must stand or fall On the dseiedon of
the court which will be called upon to
determine whether violation Of the
Spirit Of the statute where violation
of the letter has been obviate5 rem
ders the violator liable to the pre-
scribed penalties.