Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-01-15
Regulation of Trusts
and Pursuit of Grafters.

Inc American smile OF 1907 when
Judge Lands fined the oil trust 500
100000 for taking Alton rebates GER
tainly came off July % last, when
Judge Grosscup and associates Of the
lands on the assumption that the fine
was excessive and not based on good
law. What the chief hunter Of the big
octopus had to say Of that particular
turn In the road was that the merits
of the case had not been touched and
he would regard 1t as a gross miscar-
riage Of justice II through any techni-
calities' the quarry should escape. The
president at once had the motion for a
rehearing made. This was denied, and
the famous case goes up on appeal to
the supreme court.
But In the meantime the government
pack was In full cry along other paths,
the chief Of which led toward the dis
solution Of the Standard Oil company.
Sept. 10 ut Philadelphia Judge Gray
and associates on the circuit bench
sustained the right Of railroads to own
and operate coal mines, holding the
| commodity clause Of the Hepburn bill
to be despotic and cOnfscatory
Federal suits were also started
against the Hartman railroad trust
and against the powder trust, while
numerous fines were imposed on rail-
roads and other corporations under the
Elklns law for rebating. On March %
hn A,rvt 70 4
the Minnesota and North Carolina rate
laws. holding that federal courts had
the right to review and to stay execu-
ton to protect stockholders. The Ala
bama rate law was held up by the cir
cult court pending investigation of
two cent rate law was invalidated by
the state supreme court. On Nov. 81
the United States supreme court ruled
that the order of the Virginia railroad
commission fixing two cent paSSen-
ger rate was subject to review and
must be tried before the highest state
court before seeking federal interven-
ton. In December the circuit court Of
appeals enjoined the tobacco trust from
continuing interstate traffic.
Early In January the supreme court
knocked out the employers liability
law because 1t was not confined to In
terstate corporations. On Jan. 25 1t
ruled that membership in a union
might Justify dismissal Of interstate
railroad employees. On Feb. 3 In the
famous Danbury hatters' boycott case
it decided unanimously that the boy
colt as Il method Of fighting capital is
Illegal when declared against goods In
Interstate traffic. President Gompers
and other A. +. Of l.. officials We're en-
joined from publishing an unfair list"
On March . the California supreme
court vacated the conviction Of former
Mayor SchmitZ, and he was freed on
heavy bail covering other charges after
having been confined ten months.
When In November his pal, Boss Ruef,
was brought to trial the desperation Of
the graft forces showed itself In the
act Of one dlscredited saloon man,
Haas, who shot Heney In court
Though Heney was seriously injured,
he recovered to continue the fight with
increased public sympathy. Ruef was
convicted Dec. IL and faced q prison
term. Four Of Pennsylvania capitol
grafters were convicted In February
and sentenced Dec. IS to two years in
prison and $500 fine each.
On Nov. 6 at New York Charles w.
Morse. the millionaire whose Illegal
banking practices were believed to
have started the financial panic OF
| 1907, was brought to stern justice with
conviction and n fifteen year SEN
tence. At the same time sentence for
his banking associate, President Cur
It's Of the Bank of North America,
was suspended
Pittsburg was shocked by series
Of banking explosions and defalca-
tions, two Of which stand out as col
lossal crimes. On March % Henry
Reibcr, teller. and John Young. audi
for Of the Farmers DeDosit National
bank, were arrested for the misuse OK
over million Of the bank funds. In
June they were sentenced to ten years
each. On May William Montgom-
cry, cashier Of the Allegheny National
bank. was accused of diversions which
ultimately ran up to $l.3JO,OOo. includ-
ing some state funds. lie was SEN
fenced to fifteen years in prison.
Kentucky's tobacco Night Riders
made additional raids In spite OF the
troops sent out TO check them. and on
Oct. 20 band Of dispossessed squat
ters on Reelfoot lake, Tennessee. Kid
naped Captain Rankin and Colonel
Taylor Of Trenton. They hung the