The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-24
HASA Good CASE.
Commissioner Anthony Finds
for State of Missouri.
In Custer Proceedings Against
the Standard Oil Trust.

Jefferson City, Mo-, May 24.-Commis-
sioner Anthony. appointed by the Mis-
souri, supreme court to take testimony
in the custer suit of the state against
the Standard Oil company today made
his report to the court. He holds that
the evidence introduced before him is
sufficient to oust the Standard Oil COM
pany and tributary companies from
Missouri
Attorney General Hadley filed the
suit in the supreme court two years
ago, charging that the Standard Oil
company, the Waters-Pierce Oil COM
pany and the Republic Oil company
were in a trust and were parties to a
conspiracy to control the price of oil
and petroleum products in Missouri.
and to limit and prevent competition in
the oil business.
Judge Anthony, of Fredericktown,
Mo, was appointed by the supreme
court to take testimony and report his
findings to the court.
More than a year has been given to
taking of testimony, examinations have
been made in New York, St. Louis and
in other cities.
In his report to the court Judge An
thony reviews in detail the testimony
showing the organization and conduct
of the companies.
dence shows that in 1901, the Standard,
Waters-Pierce and Republic oil COM
panies, entered into an agreement,
which continued to exist up to the time
of the filing of the suit for the pur-
pose of fixing and controlling the prices
to be paid by retail dealers and others
in Missouri for the products of petrol
cum, and to limit and prevent compe-
tition in the business of buying and
selling oil.
The commissioner further finds that
the three oil companies from 1901 up
to the time of bringing the suit by the
attorney general, did:
Fix and maintain the prices of the
refined products of petroleum sold in
Missouri, consisting Of coal oil, gaso-
line and naphtha.
2-Did control and limit the trade in
such refined products of petroleum in
the state.
3-Did prevent and destroy competi-
ton in the purchase and sale of such
refined products of petroleum.
The report says that in pursuance of
the agreement, the oil companies pre-
vented competition among themselves
and others in Missouri securing control
of go per cent of the OIL business, de-
priving the people of free, full and
Wholesome competition; that the oil
companies misled the public into the
belief that they were separate and dis
tinct corporations. when in fact the
agreement made them one corporation
The findings of the commissioner sus-
tain the contentious of Attorney Cen
eral Hadley.
The report of Commissioner Anthony
will now be reviewed by the supreme
court The court may affirm the find
ings of the commissioner, or it may
remand the case to him with sugges-
+ions for further proceedings.
If the report should be affirmed and
the findings of the commissioner adopt
ed by the court, the court would then
have power to take from the Waters
pierce Oil company which is a Missouri
corporation, its franchise rights as q
corporation. With regard to the Stand
ard and Republic companies, both of
which are foreign corporations, the
court would have power to cancel their
right to do business in Missouri. The
court may impose fines on the defend