Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-03
STANDARD FINED
Judge Landis To-Day Imposed the Full Penalty. Amounting
 to s2s, ,2lO.OOO
WERE 14sz COUNTS

l TX in the United States district court to- day, will name the amount of the fine the Standard Oil Co of Indiana will be ordered to pay for accepting rebates from the Chicago and Alton railroad on shipments of oil from Whiting, Ind, to East St Louis, Ill. The maximum penalty that the oil company may be compelled to pay is $29,240, 1000 and the minimum is $1,462,000. The corporation to be punished is capitalized at $1,O00,- 900. Its visible assets, including re- fineries. pipe lines, etc. have a value, 1t is declared. of $10,000,000.
 The trial of this celebrated case was commenced March 4. and was concluded April IS. After a delib- eration of two hours. the jury re- turned verdict of guilty. When ar guments for a new trial had been heard Judge Landis called for infor- nation concerning the relations of the Standard Oil Co of New Jersey and the Standard Oil Go of Indiana, their financial status and holdings, so that he might be guided in deter mining the amount of the fine. This was refused by the defense and the court issued subpoenas for John D. Rockefeller and fourteen others, off, cials connected with the two com panies. The examination of MT Rockefeller and his associates July 9th showed that the Indiana corpora tion is owned by the New Jersey corporation and all other informa- tion desired by the court was ob- tained. Judge Landis then took the case under advisement and to-day marks the climax so far as the United States district court is concerned. A number of indictments are still pending against the company.
 Judge Landis commenced read ing his decision at 10:30 o'clock. It required two hours in the reading. The amount of the fine assessed the Standard Oil Go of In. diana will not be announced until the conclusion of the reading.
 This is prosecution of the Stand ard Oil company of Indiana for al- legged violations of the act approved February 10. 1908, known as the El- kins law. The charge Is that the de- fendants' property was transported by the Chicago X Alton railway, company at rates less than those named In the carriers tariff schedules published and filed with the interstate commerce commission, as required by law. The offences are alleged to have been com mitted during the period from Sep tember ]. 1903, to March 1, 1905. The indictment contains 1903 counts, each charging the movement of car of oil Certain of the transportation is al- legged to have been from Whiting, Ind. to East St Louis. III. the remaining counts covering transportatlons from Chappell. III. to St Louis, Missouri. The plea was mot guilty" On the trial. Al counts were withdrawn from the consideration of the jury on grounds not going to the ultimate questions involved in the case. On 1462 counts. the verdict was guilty" Motions for new trial and an arrest of judgment have been overruled. the matter is now before the court for the imposition of the penalty authorized by law.
 The full court then quoted the stat ute, making 1t unlawful for any per- son. persons, or corporation to offer, grant. or give. or to solicit, accept or receive any rebate, concession, or dls- crimination in respect of the trans- portatlon of any property in interstate or foreign commerce by any common carrier.
 Court also noted In full the provl- sion requiring the publication and tll- ing of tariff schedules.
 Judge Landis, after the reading of his decision. imposed a fine upon the Standard oil company of Indiana of s29.240.OO0. the maximum amout upon each one of the 1 .462 counts of the ln- dictment on which the company was recently convicted of relating. The judge recommended that a call be ls- sued for a special grand jury. which Is to consider the other parties to the relating operations of which the Standard was found guilty, and 1t ls therefore probable within a short time proceedings will be begun against the Chicago & Alton railroad for alleged commission of similar offenses