Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-08-08
.[NAR on STANDARD
! OIL TO CONTINUE
FURTHER DRASTIC ACTION BY
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IS PROMISED.
SMITH REPORT SHOWS
ENORMOUS EARNINGS
Net Dividends in "a Years Have Been
$79O,00O,O00 On an investment Of
$75,ooo,ooo - Early Hearing by,
Supreme Court Expected.

chicago, Aug. o.-Wdr upon the
Standard Oil company and other law
breaking corporations reopened Mon
day with renewed vigor and promises
even more drastic and sensational &C
ton by the government in it's attack
against the trusts. ..
While District Attorney Sims and
his assistants are preparing for pos
sible criminal action against the oil
monopoly's officials when the special
grand jury investigates the rebate
charges against the Chicago & Alton
railroad, indications came from other
sources throughout the country of new
attacks in the courts by the govern.
ment and individual states.
Slgnltlcapce was seen by observers
of the governments policy Monday in
the startling report of Herbert Knox
Smith, commissioner Of corporations,
to President Roosevelt, in which the
questionable methods of the oil octo-
pus in boosting the price of it's prod
ucts are strongly denounced.
Government to Act.
Closely following the excoriation OF
the trust by Judge Lands in his de-
cision fning the corporation $29,24O,-
900, the report came as another indica-
ton of the governments purpose to
reveal the true character of the trust
upon which to base further prosecu-
tons.
President Roosevelt's trust-smashing
@big stick" is seen behind the federal
activity, is the comment of Chicago
attorneys, and the troubles Of the mo-
nopoly, it is believed, will increase as
the time draws near for the expiration
of the presidents tarm of Office.
Dividends Are Enormous.
Commissioner Smith in his report
declares that the Standard Oil COM
pany has acquired it's enormous power
by unfair competition and methods
economically and morally unjustif-
able" and gives staggering figures to
prove that it has raised the price of
oil without cause He shows that it's
net earnings from 1882 to 1906 have
been $7e0,000,000 upon an investment
of s75,000,G00, and that 1851, 922,904
have been paid in dividends in that
period. - &. .-. .~ 49, .+..-. .-.--
Early Decision Expected.
1t is believed in government circles
that an early hearing of the appeal
from Judge Lands decision is GER
tain. The United States court of ap-
peals, which first will consider it, holds
sessions in October, January and
April. 1t is the opinion of government
attorneys that the case will reach the
court in time for hearing in January,
If the oil company chooses to seek a
writ of supersedeas rather than ap-
peal direct to the Supreme court on a
question of the constitutionality of
the Elkins law. In the former court it
is thought the case might reach the
Supreme court at the October term
in 1908. Being a criminal case, it
would take precedence on the court
docket.
The constitution of the United
States provides that no punishment
shall be ''cruel and unusual" and this
is expected to be the basis Of the ap-
peal from the $29,240,0OO fine.
Wait and See, Warns Rogers.
New York, Aug. GA telegram from
H. H. Rogers, the active head of the
Standard Oil company, dated from his
summer home at Fair Haven, Mass,
is published here in which Mr.. Rogers
says of the Chicago decision:
II have only an incomplete report of
the Chicago decision, but Mr.. Moffett's
statement is in full and absolutely
correct as to facts. Fair-minded and
honorable men will decide as to the
logic and the law as the case pro-
crosses"
The Moffett statement referred to
was issued by James A. Moffett, pres
tdent of the Standard OH Company of
Indiana, on Saturday, and gives the
views of the Standard Oil company on
the decision. .., r.
-