Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-11-27
Constitutes Illegal Combination.

Constitutes Illegal Combination.
t'Held; The transaction constituted
combination and conspiracy in re-
straint of and to monopolize com
rerce among the states and with for
eign nations ia violation of sections
and 2 of the antitrust act of July
2, 1890, and. the government is en-
titled to an injunction against. the
further continuance and operation |
thereof"
The decree enjoins the seven indi-
vidual defendants, the Standard Oil
company, and its subsidiary corpora
tions, from continuing or carrying
into effect the illegal combination they
have formed, and from. entering. into
any like combination or conspiracy the
effect of which viii be to restrain in
terstate commerce in petroleum or its
products, or prolong the unlawful
monopoly of such commerce obtained
by the defendants as stated in the de-
cree and they are forbidden from en-
gaging or continuing in interstate COM
merce until they discontinue their
illegal combination.
History of Case.
This case was heard in the United
States circuit court at St. Louis in
April last by Circuit Judges Sanborn,
Yandeventer of Cheyenne. Hook of
Leavenworth and Adams of st. Louis.
Judge Sanborn, the presiding judge,
wrote the opinion and the decree, in
which all the judges coneurred, and
sent them to Judge Adams, at st.
Louis, who fled them and entered the
decree in that city this morning. <
The case was argued by Frank B.
Kellogg of st. Paul and Charles. ,B.
Morrison of Chicago for the United
States, and john D. Milbufn of Buff
falo, David Il. Watson Of Pittsbufg,
Moritz Rosenthal of Chicago and John
G. johnson of Philadelphia, on behalf
of the defendants.
The suit was. brought to enjoin John
D.. Rockefeller, William Rockefeller,
Henry M. Flagler, II. II. Rogers, John
d. Archibold, Oliver II. Payne, Charles
NJ Pratt, the Standard Oil company of
New Jersey, and about 70 others cor
porations from maintaining a comb,
nation and conspiracy in restraint of
trade, to monopolize Interstate and
international commerce., and ,the de-
cree grants the injunction sought by
the government.
Vast Interests Involved.
The case is one of the most notable
in the. history of the national govern
ment on account of the important in
dustrial and legal questions, and the
vast financial interests it. involves.
The evidence filed 2f volumes and oc-
cupied more than 10000 printed pages,
and the arguments Of counsel more
than 300 printed pages.
The nature of the case and the char
acter of the decision appear from the
the power to fix the. rates of trans
portation, the purchase and selling
price of petroleum and its products
which all of these corporations should
pay and receive in the conduct of their
business in commerce among the states
and with foreign nations.
"Since that exchange of stock the
seven individual defendants have been
and are stockholders and officers of
the Standard company of New Jersey,
which. exercised and is still using that
power, and by its use it has prevented
and is still preventing competition in
commerce among the states and with
foreign nations among. the corpora
tons.
l..
The Standard Oil company was
organized in 1870. o..
+ I'm '1s72 it began purchasing other
refneries,
Alleged by government first rebates
paid in 1872. In 1879 a secret trust
agreement was made according to the
government.
In 1882 the Standard Oil trust wasl
formed, the stock of the company be-
ing turned over to the trustees to
manage the business, the trustees man
aged about 40 companies.
In 1892 the trust was dissolved by
the order of the supreme court of
Ohio. At the time it is alleged to
have held 11s companies. Government
alleges the trust secretly continued un-
til $780,
In 1899 Standard Oil company of
New Jersey recognized as a holding
company.
! + Dissolution suit fled November IS,
1905, in st. Louis.
Franklin Ferris. appointed special ex-
aminer to- take testimony June rs, 1907.
Finished hearings February, 1902. =
Case argued before judges of the
Eighth United States circuit court of
appeals April, 1909.
4: Decision rendered in favor of the
government November 20, 1909, all
judges concurring. $500
Sicily lost 10000 inhabitants by
earthquake in 1893.