Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-01-04
Regulation of Trusts
and Pursuit of GrafterS,

The American smile of 1907 when
100000 for taking Alton rebates GER
tainly came off July % last, when
Judge Grosscup and associates Of the
court Of appeals at Chicago reversed
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 it as gross miscar-
riage Of justice if 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 at Philadelphia Judge Gray
and associates on the circuit bench
sustained the right Of railroads to own
commodity clause of the Hepburn bill
to be despotlc and confiscatory.
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
Elkins law for rebating. On March %
the supreme court, 8 to 1, invalidated
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
reasonableness Of rates. Pennsylvania
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 tfa1fc.
Early in January the supreme court
knocked out the employers liability
law because it was not confined to ill.,
terstate corporations. On Jan. % it
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 method Of fighting capital is
Illegal when declared against goods in
interstate traffic. President GoInpers
and other A. Il. Of l.. officials were ell
| joined from publishing an unfair list"
On March 8 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 discredited 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. II and faced a prison
term. Four Of Pennsylvania capitol
and sentenced Dec. 1S 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
nave started the financial panic Of
1907, was brought to stern justice with
conviction and a 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.
Fittsburg was shocked by series
OF banking explosions and defalca-
lions, two Of which stand out as col
lossal crimes On March % Henry
Reiber. teller and John Young, audi
tor of the Farmers Deposit National
bank, were arrested for the misuse OF
over a million of the bank funds. In
June they were sentenced to ten years
each. On May I William Montgom-
SASs SdShiSi Va INC ANdllOIldl
bank. was accused of diversions which
ultimately ran up to $3.50, 600, includ-
Ing some state funds. He 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 a band Of dispossesscd squat
tiers on Reefoot lake, Tennessee, kid
mapped Captain Rankin and Colonel
Taylor Of Trenton They hung the
former, but the latter escaped by
swimming the lake. Troops were call
ed out, and many arrests were made.
The most serious race riots Of the
year occurred at Springfield. ILL.,, Aug.
IA and 10, When wild mob killed
nine persons, injured eighty and burn
ed houses occupied by negroes. Troops
were called out and the leaders
brought to justice.
The last Of the Idaho cases against
miners officials ended with the ac-
quittal OF George A. Pettibone In jan
i