Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-08-16

Judge KeneSaw NJ. Lands Of the
Federal District Court in Chicago on
Saturday fined the Standard Oil Com
pany $29,240,OO0 for having violated
the Elkins law pertaining to rebates,
on 1,462 counts. 1t was the maximum
penalty permitted by the statutes. And
1t is the largest assessment for an in
fraction of law that is recorded in all
history, for all governments. This vast
sum of money is not to be paid without
protest, however. Attorneys for the oil
corporation announced their intention
of perfecting an appeal to the United
States Court of Appeals. From there
1t is announced the case will go to the
Federal Supreme Court.
Be- Judge Kenesaw M. Lands of the
United States District Court, who in
faicted the unprecedented penalty, did
not stop with the imposition Of the fine.
He directed attention to the STUDIED
~insolence" Of the legal representatives
OF the corporation TO the court OF which
he was the representative and COM
mented ~forcefully upon it. After de-
nouncing the methods of the oil COM
pany. which he declared imposed bur-
~dens upon every class Of citizens and
wounded society more deeply than open
~depredations of criminals, the jurist
expressed regret that only a fine could
be imposed for violations of the law
under which the company was indicted.
While his regret was being voiced it
was recalled that there still are pend
ing against h oil corporations seven
indictments like the one just disposed
of, containing 4,422 counts. Should
there be convictions on all these counts
there would be possible additional fines
of $%Ss,44O,ooo.
Springs Second Sensation.
While occupants of the crowded
courtroom leaned forward in amaze
ment at the drastic arraignment of the
corporation and the gigantic penalty
melted out to it, the jurist stirred them
anew. Judge Landis had no sooner
mentioned the amount of the $29,24O,-
600 fine than he caused a second ire
dmendous sensation that he would call
q grand jury to investigate the rela-
lions of the railroads to the big rebate
conspiracy. In view of his remark
that tire penitentiary was the place for
the offenders, and that Congress at the
last session passed an act under which
they may be sentenced to serve time,
the effect was electric.
Rockefeller ano his associates, to-
I gether with the officials of the Chicago
and Alton Railroad, might be sent to
the penitentiary as the result of this
new Investigation" admitted one of the
attaches Of the District Attorneys Of
fee. This could only ie done if the
o~ffenses have been continued since Con
gress made conspiracy in restraint of
trade a penitentiary offense.'
1t was a dramatic morning in court.
What Judge Lands had to say to John
d. Rockefeller's trust will live as one
OF the most remarkable utterances COM
ing from the bench. Twice Judge
Lands was %applauded. But he halted
the demonstration himself, rapping
fercely On the wooden desk in front
uf him with his bare knuckles.
Officials to be Prosecuted.
Backed by the cohesive forces Of the
United States authorities, it is expect
cd that Judge Landis will proceed
against the railroad companies that
gave to Mr.. Rockefeller's oil trust IL
legal rebates. And he will attack the
individuals OF both the Oil and the
railroad corporations instituting and
permitting such preferential rates. The
railroads are likely to be indicted on
s1ines Identical with the procedure In