Evening journal., 1906-11-15
PROSECUTING The
STANDARD OIL co.
AttOrney-GeneraI Moody Goes
Up Against Gigantic Trust
To-day
CRIMINAL SUITS MAY FOLLOW

BY Our Own Wire, Publishers Press.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-The Federal
Government to-day began its long con-
templated battle against the Standard
Oil Company.
In papers fled this morning in the
United states Circuit Court, at St. Louis,
by direction of Attorney-General Moody
the government seeks to have the gigantic
trust dissolved.
In support of its plea. the Government
presents an array of violations Of the
Sherman antitrust law, including con-
spiracy, coercion, intimidation, rebating
and other vicious acts and practices.
It is the intention Of President Roosevelt
to make this proceeding the crowning
achievement in the administrations trust
busting accomplishments. That the wheels
of Justice may grind very fine, John
ID. Rockefeller, and six other high Of
ncals Of the Oil Trust are made parties
defendant.
Criminal prosecutions win probably fol-
low to-day's action. In a statement issued
this morning, announcing the commence
ment Of the suit against the Oil Trust,
,Attorney-General Moody says:
'The question whether any action Of a
dinerent nature should be taken is re-
served for future c1nside ration. The con-
trovlrsy is now pending in the courts, and
any further comment by this department,
or by any one connected with .t would
obviously be improper and unfair"
The advisabilty OF 0eginnlns criminal
prosecutions against the trust officers was
under earnest consideration by the At
torney-General, and his trust busting
subordinates all Of last week.
Particulars Of the Bill
The bnH fled at ST. Louis to-day reviews
the history Of the Standard Oil Company
from 1870 down to the present from the
time when It was "a simple conspiracy
TO its formation as a holding company
under the laws Of New Jersey, with ag-
rregate capital now Of over $looooo'0oo
and controlling more than 90 per cent. OF
the oil business in the United States.
In reclting the remorseless operation OF
the trust, it is declared that even since
August Of this year the Standard has re-
fused to transport oil Of other companies,
excepting in such large quantities as to
completely prevent independent producers
and refners Of oil from using its service,
and it is further charged that the trust
has forced sixteen independent refners
now doing business in Pennsylvania and
Ohio, and procuring their crude oil
through the Standard oil Company's pire
lines, to sell all Of their export oil to the
Standard. thereby eliminating their COM
petition. It is declared that this contract
was procured through threats.
It is charged that the Standard, through
its influence, and by reason Of its large
tonnage, sells substantially all OF the
lubricating oils to the railroads OF the
United States; that the prices are from
50 to 100 per cent. more than the prices
which other manufacturers are willing TO
sell the same and. that these excessive
prices are willingly paid by the railroads.
in order that they may get the trusts
business, and that this is substantially
the payment Of rebates.
The bill points out many instances
where the trust has driven independent
dealers, refiners and jobbers out Of busi-
ness; it explains the operation Of bogus
Independent companies; Of the system Of
secret rebates and reductions; Of division
OF territory and Of determinations.
1t charges that the great system Of IL
legal favors obtained from the railroads
Of the country has been brought about
through the ownership and influence of
the individual defendants and others act
ing in their interest. in the various rail-
roads OF the United States.