The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-12-24
STANDARD OF INDIANA, WATERS.
PIERCE AND REPUBLIcA OF
OHIO, HARD HIT BY MIS-
SOURI, SUPREME COURT.
THREE ATTEMPTS TO
COMPROMISE CASES
Were Made BY Attorneys for the De,
fendants-Each Company was
Fined $4,000 --- Waters,
Pierce Can Continue Busi-
ness Under Proviso.

ness Under Proviso.
Jefferson City, Mo, Dec. 29-Da-
clarng that the Standard Oil Com
pany Of Indiana, the Repubiica on
Pierce OH Company OF Missouri, hal
conspired and combined to monopo
lie the oil business OF this state, the
supreme court cf Missouri today is-
sued q decree ousting all Of these
firm the commonwealth and fining
hem $4,000 each
The decree against the Waters
Pierce Company is tempered by
proviso that It may continue in bus:.
ness If by January Is, 1909, it cal
show TO the court that it has take1
steps to operate as an Independent
concern and has satisfied the judg-
ment against it. The other com.
panies are given until March |, 1909,
to wind up their affairs in the state.
Decision Unanimous.
The decision, which was unanm rs
sweeping that Attorney General Had
ley ana Governor Folk hail II as the
end of Illegal commercial combination
| in Missouri and the former asserts
Ithat, In conjunction With the dccisioa
Iof the supreme court OF the United
States in The tobacco trust case, Il
viii effect similar suits in ctha.
states.
Hadley, who has prosecuted th4
Missouri case since its inception i1
March of 1905, will become goyern,t
in less than a month and then will be
charged with the enforcement of the
decree issued today
The attorney general followed 20
the PRONUNCIATION by the court with 4
statement in which he asserted that
attempts had been made to comprc
mise the suit
Tied to Compromise.
AT least three efforts have been
made by the attorneys for the com.
panies to get me to compromise the
cases" he said II invariably told
them that an ultimate decision must
be made by the courts and refused
their oeffrs II was intImated to me
that the companies were willing 10 lc
cept a good large fine and coneele
the victory 10 the state. The propo
sitions wer never reduced to details
but they were entirely legitimate AMI
such as might be made in any othe,
form Of litigation.
In coming to It's decision the cour;
says
III such abuses as those complained
OF are permitted 10 continue untram
meled, it would be only question OF
time until they would sap thf
strength and patriotism from the yely
foundation OF our government, over
tirn the republic, destroy our free in.
sututions. and substitute, in lea
thereof, some other form OF gyeni
ment'
The indictments.
The principal indictments against
the companies are.
"Th8t they have created and be-
come members OF a pool. trust agree
meut. confederation. combination. ar.
raageweut and understanding among
themselves Tor the following pur-
poses.
First. 10 regulate aud control the
prices 20 be paid by retail dealen
and othss in Missouri for the refined
products Of petroleum. sold and of
feral for sale IN this state.
second. TO control and limit tia
trade in refined products OF petroleum
iu this state
Third. TO control limit aud pre-
vent competition iu the business "a;
buying and selling refined produces
of petroleum iu this state.
Third. 20 control. limit and pre
vent competition in The business a
living ana selling refined products @
petroleum in this state between thent
selves and others engaged in ike bus
HHess.
Fourth. 20 misleai the public ints
the belief that they were separate ani
distinct corporations and pursuing ia
F4uanient business as legitimate com
uetitors i nthe purchase and sale q
the products % petroleum.