The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1907-05-25
TO GUST OIL TRUST
Commissioner Named by Missouri
Supreme Court Reports
FINDS COMBINATION EXISTS
standard, Waters-Pierce and Republic
Companies In an Agreement to Pre-
vent Competition and Control the
Price of Petroleum Products

jefferson City, Mo. May 25,-Com-
missioner Anthony, appointed by the
Missouri supreme court TO take teSti-
mOny in the custer suit Of the state
against the Standard Oh company, in
his report made to the court holds
that the evidence introduced before
him is sufficient to GUST the Standard
Oh company and tributary companies
from Missouri. His findings hold that
the Standard, Waters-Pierce and Re-
public Oil companies entered into an
He recommends that their charters
be revoked and that they be ousted
from the state In his report he holds
that the supreme court has the au-
thority to make the ruling Of custer.
Attorney General Hadley filed the
suit in the supreme court two years
ago, charging that the Standard Oh
company, the Waters-Pierce OH COM
parry and the Republic Oil company
were In a trust and were parties to
conspiracy to control the price Of Oil
and petroleum products in Missouri
and to limit and prevent competition
in the Oil business More than year
has been occupied in the taking Of the
testimony, witnesses having been eX-
amined In New York, ST. Louis and
other cities
Testimony Reviewed in Detail
In his report to the court Judge
Anthony reviews In detail the testi-
mony showing the organization and
conduct Of the companies He re-
ports to the court that the evidence
shows that In 1901 the Standard, Wa
ters-Pierce and Republic Oh COM
panieS entered into an agreement.
which continued to exist up TO the
time Of the fling Of the suit. for the
purpose OF fixing and controlling the
prices TO be paid by retail dealers
and others in Missouri for the prod
uct3 Of petroleum and to limit and
prevent competition 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;
'First-Fix and maintain the prices
OF the refined products of petroleum.
sold in Missouri. consisting of coal
OIL gasoline and naphtha.
"Second-Did control and limit the
trade In such refined products OF
petroleum in the state.
"Third-Did prevent and destroy
competition IN the purchase and sale
of such refined products Of petro-
leum."
All Competition kli.ed
The report says that IN pursuance
Of the agreement the oil companies
prevented competition among them
selves and others tn Missouri, secur-
ing control Of 90 per cent Of the oil
business, depriving the people of free,
full and wholesome competition; that
the OIL companies misled the public
into the belief that they were sep
arate and distinct corporations, when
in fact. the agreement made them one
corporation.
The findings Of the commissioners
sustain In toto the contentious Of At
torney General Hadley In the petition
filed with the court two years ago.
The report Of Commissioners An
thony will now be reviewed by the
supreme court The court may affirm
the findings Of the commissioner or
1t may remand the case to him with
directions for further proceedings.
II the report should be affirmed and
the findings Of the commissioners
adopted by the court the court will
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 Standard and Republic conn
panies, both Of which are foreign cor
porations. the court would have power
to cancel their right to do business in
Missouri,