The Mena weekly star., 1907-05-30
HADLEYS GREAI VICTORY
Commissioner Anthony Recommends Custer of Oil Companies From
 Missouri by Supreme Court.
sLL CONVENTIONS OF STATE SUSTAINED
Waters-Pierce, Republic and Standsrd Oil Companies Guilty of combIn
 ing In Restraint of Traie Says Judge Anthony--supreme Court Must Now Pass Upon the Report

Judge Anthony-Supreme Cour'
 Must Now Pass Upon the Report
 Jefferson City, Mo. May 25.- Judge Robert A. Anthony, appointed by the supreme court of Missouri, to take testimony in the suit in- stituted by Attorney General Hadley against the Standard oil company the waters-P Pierce Oil company and the Republic oil company, charg- ing conspiracy Friday made his report to the court His findings hold that the Standard, Waters Pierce and Republic Oil companies entered into an agreement to con trol prices of oil He recommends that their charters be revoked and that they be busted from the state. In his report he holds that the SUI preme court has the authority to make the ruling of custer
 Attorney General Hadley filed the suit in the supreme court two years ago, charging that the Standard Oil company were in trust and were parties to a conspiracy to control the prices 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 occupied in the talk ing Of the testimony, witnesses hay- ing been examined in New York. St. Louis. and other cities.
 In his report to the court Judge Anthony reviews in detail the testi- mony showing the organization and conduct of the companies
 He reports to the court that the evidence shows that in 1901. the Standard, Waters-Pierce and Re- public oil companies entered into an agreement, which continued to exist up to the time of the filing of the suit. for the purpose of fixing and controlling the prices to be paid by retail dealers and others In Missouri for the products of petroleum. and 10 limit and prevent competition in tho 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, gasoline and naptha.
 Did control anl limit the trade in such refined products of petroleum in the state.
 Did prevent and destroy competi- tion in the purchase and sale of such refined products of petroleum.
 The report says that in pursuance = -.>s.-4i-~--~--~~-r,rsers r'srr uftroug ruefu- selves and others in Missouri. secur- ing control of 90 per cent of the oil business. depriving the people of free. full and wholesome competi- tion; that the oil companies misled were separate and distinct cor porations. when in fact the agree ment made them one corporation,
 The findings of the commissioner sustain in toto the contentious of Attorney General Hadley in the pe:l- tion filed with the court two years ago.
 The report of Commissioner Anthony will now be reviewed by the supreme court. The court may affirm the findings of the commis- sioner. or it may remand the case to him with directions for further pro- ceedings
 If the report should be affirmed and the findings of the commis- sioner adopted by the court. the court would then have power to take from the Waters-Pier oil company. which is q Missouri corporation, it's franchise rights as corporation. With regard to the Standard and Republic companies. both Of which gre foreign corporations, tie court would have power to cancel their right to do business In Missouri The court may impose fines on the de- fendants
 The Waters-Pierce Oil company is Missouri corporation, having been originally incorporated in this state In 1878. It was re-organized in 1900. The Standard oil company of In diana, was organized in Indiana in 1889. and was licensed to do business in Missouri in IS97 The Repahlic oil company is incorporated under the laws of New York Ii was licensed in Missouri in t90i