The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1906-07-07
TROUBLES OF THE TRUSTS
They are Considerably Dis6sured,
Even If They co Manage to
Remain in the Ring

Representative Townsend Of Michigan
in which ne said:
The sherman antitrust law has
been enforced until Illegal combina-
tons are in great fear and trembling,
while some Of their constituents are
either on the road to the penitentiary
or are hiding from the officers Of jus
tice."
A review Of the events since the
first OF the present year shows that
this statement has substantial basis
of fact. The six months just closed
have indeed been a strenuous period
for the trusts. Not to mention the
Standard Oil and the railroad probes
now in progress, the final outcome of
which remains TO be seen, some of the
biggest Of the combines have been
hard hit by court decisions, while 9TH
er decisions handed down by the high
est tribunals have made it easier for
the federal and state governments to
successfully prosecute violaters of the
antitrust laws. The antitrust cam
paign has not been confined TO any
one section of the country, but has
extended from New York to Califor-
MIA as may be seen by the following
chronology Of events:
Jan. Federal grand jury at
Chicago indicted the Burlington rail-
road and two Of it's officers on a
charge Of granting rebates.
Jan. 11--Federal grand jury at
Utica, N Y, indicted the New York
Central and the Delaware and Hudson
railroad companies On a charge of
giving rebates to the General Electric
Company.
Jan. I1.-Freight rate convention
at Wichita, Kas.. attended by del
egates from all over the west, urged
political action to curb power of the
great trusts.
Jan. Administrations bill for
railway rate legislation introduced in
the house
Jan. 25.-Attorney General Hadley
Of Missouri. announced that sufficient
evidence had been produced to war
rant the bringing of criminal pro-
ceedings against the Standard Oil
Company. under the laws of New
York
Feb, s-House passed the railway
rate bill
Feb. 12-Senate adopted resolutions
TO investigate the coal-carrying rail-
road monopoly.
Feb. 10 Attorney General Ellis of
Ohio began his inquiry into the opera
tons Of the bridge trust.
Feb. 19.-The United States supreme
court. in the case of the government
against the Chesapeake and Ohio and
the New York, New Haven and Hart
ford railroads, held that railroads cam
rot deal in commodities which they
haul over their lines.
Feb. 26.-Missouri supreme court
decided that Standard Oil officers
must answer Attorney General Had
Iey's questions.
Feb. 2e.-Texas supreme court ruled
against exclusive railroad express con-
tracts.
March President signed Tillman-
Gillespie resolution for the probing Of
coal and oil monopolies
March limited States attorney for
the northern district of California fled
against IS elevator COM
panies. charging them with violation
Of the Sherman antitrust law.
March 12-United States supreme
court decided that the government has
power TO compel trusts and their Of
fcials to answer all questions regard
ing their methods of business.
March 26-First rebate prosecution |
under EIkins law began at Philadel- |
Dhia. Resulted in acquittal of the de- /
iendants.
April 9.-Kansas supreme court held !
that live stock exchange of Kansas
City was a trust and that all mort
cages made through members were in
valid
April I1.-Circuit court Of Franklin /
county, Ohio, revoked charter Of the |
wholesale grocer's association on the /
ground that it was formed to regu
ate prices and restrain trade.
April 17.-President sent message TO /
Congress calling for new legislation
% prevent federal judges from deciding
hat information offered by defendants 1
n antitrust cases renders them i'm
rune from prosecution.
April 25.-Grsnd jury at Norwalk,
D.. returned indictments against the
bridge companies for alleged trust law
violations.
April 25.-At Cleveland. O., govern
nent began investigation into relations
between railroads and Standard OH
Company.
May lin federal court at St.
Paul. the General Paper Company
abandoned its opposition to the gov
.rnment's suit charging restraint of
rade and was ordered to dissolve
May I6.- Astounding disclosures
4 bribe-taking and hearing Of special
interests brought to light in federal
robe into relations or railroads and
cal companies at Philadelphia
May 2S.-Agents and officials Of