The Detroit times., 1909-04-07
OIL TRUSTS spy
7. METHODS SHOWN
Attorney Morrison Produces Papers
On Which Independent Ship
ments Were Recorded.

81. LUIS, MO-, Aprii o.TShei'S'
Il. Morrison almost AT the opening OF
his argument In the Standard Oh
case sprung a sensation that made the
Standard Oil lawyers suddenly straight
en- themselves In their chairs and take
rene wed interest In the proceedings.
Morrison laid on the table bundle
OF papers which he said were reports
OF the railroads TO the Standard snow
ing the shipments Of independents.
The papers were reports made on
regular printed forms showing the
amount OF shipment. the name OF the
independent company and the point
from and To which the goods were
consigned.
The competitive department was de-
scribed by the attorneys as the spy
department.
Rosenthal. the 81, 600 IA day attorney
OF the Dig oil company. looked up with
sudden interest when the papers were
laid on the clerks desk and paid
closer attention To Morrison as he
continued:
The Standard" said Morrison,
from its Office, No. 90 Broadway.
keeps In touch with the financial
world and brushes competitors at viii.
One of the most important depart
mems Is its statistical bureau, where
Il keeps record OF every barrel OF
oil shipped by an independent.
Through the knowledge furnished By
! this department, II can reach and
crush competitors"
If the government succeeds IL
procuring an order restraining the sub
ordinate corporations from paying
dividends To the Standard. it will hold
In its hands an instrument with which
| IL can at Will destroy the integrity
OF every big enterprise In the United
States"
| Attorney Moritz Rosenthal, mouth
piece OF the oil company. thus voices
the opinion OF magnates he represents.
! Not only may the Standard Oil Co.
he dissolved. hut also The railway
mergers, steel trust. fish trust and
/ all the great trusts that control the
/ supply OF the necessaries of life. The
dissolving OF these organizations. In
the opinion OF the Standard advisers.
will demoralize capital
| The government expects TO finish
the presentation OF its case this after.
noon. The program for the day Is
that Kellogg finish by noon and Spe-
cial Counsel Charles b. Morrison will
present his argument during the after
noon. At their hotels before court
convened this morning. the four pre-
siding judges glanced over the brief
OF fact of the defense. This was fled
! in three paper volumes OF 500 pages
after yesterdays adjournment II
deals with the origin. ownership anu
development of the Standard Oil Co.
and gives "A history OF the companies
acquired subsequent TO the trust agree.
ment
IL rebuts all allegation of conspir-
acy IN restraint Of trade and OF resort
to unfair methods. On the ground
that no proof has been adduced
against the Galena Signal Oil Co, OF
Franklin. Pa. the Standards lawyers
ask for dismissal OF the charges
against that company This concern
supplies most of the railroads OF the
country with lubricating oil.
! The brief OF law which the de-
Tense will file today outlines the argu
ment by which Rosenthal and his col
leagues believe they will be able 10
wriggle out OF the net Of allegations
the government has made against
them. II is the most important OF
the documents the defense will file
ana will outline TO the court the legal
! line OF their defense.
l he Standards brief says:
The law under which the govern.
ment is proceeding in this case is that
/ OF the Sherman antitrust act The
! provisions of the act are that a trust
! is constituted by the uniting of COM
! petitive interests under one organ
ization for the purpose of ending COM
petition and restraining others from
engaging in the same trade. The
merging of many concerns under a
common ownership not changing the
identity OF the owners. but simply the
form under which they hold them j.
not u trust.
| One owner or group OF owners may
own and operate an industry In its
entirety without violating the law.
! Proof In the case shows that the same
group OF owners who hold the sixty
nine subsidiary companies own the
principal corporation No trust In re-
! straint Of trade can exist under the
conditions cited and the governments
application OF the Sherman act has no
/ force"
/ A new hook for hanging up mems
hats catches them by the brim III