The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-08-08
STANDARD OLE CO.
GIVEN THE LIMIT
Is FINED s29 10000 FOR ACCEPT
ING REBATES.
AFTER ALTON RAILWAY NOW
New Grand Jury Called to Meet on
August f4-Rcad viii Have to
Answer For Giving
Rebates.

neDatcS.
Chicago, Aug. s.The Standard Oil
CO. az Indiana was given the limit this
morning and fines amounting TO 500.
24V0c000 were imposed upon It by
Judge lands.
Concluding the decision Judge Ian.
dls said; .The prohibiting preferesl-
tial railroad rates was passed twenty
years ago. Its adoption was preceded
By Opposition BY the beaefciaries Of a
vicious practice. Immediately mere
after these persons set about to de-
wise means for its evasion. DEGREES
of courts, and the Interstate commits
sion, show The employment Of large
variety OF schemes to accomplish this
result. Finally in 1903 the Ellins law
was passed Hope was entertained
that this law would put an end to
preferential rates, yet beginning 4
few mouths thereafter the Standard
Oil Company procured nineteen hun
bred carloads of property to be ship
ped at unlawful secret rate For this
ofrenso tile Elkins law authorized pun
ishnent only by fine This was an
obvious defect remedied. however, by |
the present law. prescribing imprison
ment for like offenses. However, it |
Is the business of judge to admin |
lister fhe law as he finds ii. rather |
than to expatiate upon the inadequacy |
Of punishment authorized for its in |
fraction. 1t is the Judgment, and the |
sentence of court that defendant |
standard OIL co. pay fine of 49,
240, 10000.
New Grand Jury Ordered.
One thing remains II must not be
assumed that in this jurisdiction these
laws mas be ignored If they are not
obeyed they viii be enforced. The
plain, demands of justice require that
the facts disclosed in this proceeding
be submitted to the grand jury with
d view of the consideration of the
conduct OF the other party to these
transactions. Let an order be enter
ed for the panel OF sixty men return
able 1t ten O'Clock on the morning Of
August IA. The United States dis
trict attorney is directed to proceed
accordingly"
An Honest Investigation.
Judge Lands said it was necessary l
to know whether the Standard accept
ed the concession knowingly declar
ing that an honest search by an hou-
est man would reveal the legal rate.
He added: "The law will not permit
the shipper to assume that a certain
rate Is the legal one He must know.
The court is not impressed by the
ioleFul prediction of the defendants
counsel that the enforcement of this
rule win work hardships upon an hon
est shipping public" The court con
straed the law as not giving the de-
fendant any immunity from punish
ment, He said the Standard has been
an old offender.
Opinion is Exhaustive.
The decision contains 1900 words
and It took the Judge SIS minutes to
read it. Attorney starr for the Stand
ard objected to the final entry of the
order because the defendants attor-
ney was not present This was over
ruled. starr then wanted the judg
ment set aside because it violates
the eighth amendment of the Consti-
tuition, which prohibits the intiiction |
OF excessive fines. The court over
ruled this and many other motions.
Sixty days are given the defendant to |
file a bill Of exceptions. The case |
goes to the court of appeals in Janu-
AIRY.
The amount Of rebates alleged to |
have been secured by the company in |
the three years in which its acts |
were under court scrutiny are said TO |
heye aggregated s223.0 The total |
earnings OF the Standard during the |
Same period as shown in the testi- |
mony. totaled s199.S00.00O.
Proceed Against Railroad
The grand jury ordered win inyesti |
gate the charge OF rebating against |
The Alton Railroad All through the |
decision the court exhibited evidence
that the Alton IS equally guilty He |
reviewed waybills and tariff SEIZED |
nIes showing that upon the appIica-
ton OF the Standard the Alton render
ed trust 0fIlcials' statements that the |
rate on OH from Whiting. Indiana. to
East st, Louis was six cents. where
as the rate 10 the public was eighteen |
cents 'This alleged occurrence be
tween the traffic manager and the
rate clerk will receive more detailed |
consideration hereafter said Judge |
Lands
Without a Parallel.
Judge Iandis is the most talked
about man in Chicago today. All at
torneys agree his decision has no par
allel ia Angio-Saxon Jurisprudence.