Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-03
STANDARD OIL CASE HISTORY
Great Trust Ordered Dissolved by
United States Circuit Court.


Great Trust Ordered Dissolved by
United States Circuit Court.
When the United States circuit
court for the eastern district of Mis-
souri, recently handed down at st. Paul
its decision ordering the dissolution of
the Standard Oil Company of New Jer-
sey 1t was the second time the courts
had grappled with the great oil COM
bination in an effort to break its power.
The government filed it's complaint
In the Standard Oil case in November,
1906, before the United States circuit
court for the eastern district of Mis-
souri,. The complaint was directed
against the parent organization, known
as the Standard Oil Company Of New
Jersey, with it's various subsidiary cor
porations. 1t was also directed against
seven ndividuals-namely, John D.,
Rockefeller, William Rockefeller, Hen
~ NJ. Flagler, Henry Fl. Rogers now
dead, John d. Archbold, Oliver H.
Payne and Charles M. Pratt The
main company, its branches and these
individuals were charged with having
entered into an agreement, combina-
ton and conspiracy to restrain trade
and commerce among the several
states, to monopolize the trade in pc
troleum. in its purchase and it's ship
ment and transportation by pipe line,
steamships and by rail; also in the
manufacture and refining of petroleum.
The United States asked for per-
petual injunction and for the dissolu-
ton Of the Standard Oil combination.
Hearings were held in New York,
Washington. Chicago, Cleveland and
st. Louis, about 400 witnesses being
examined. The case finally reached
the full bench of four judges compris-
ing the United States circuit court of
the st. Louis district, of which Judge
Sanborn is member. The arguments
in behalf of the government were made
by Frank B. Kellogg of st. Paul and
ex- United States Attorney Morrison of
Chicago, while John G. Milburn of
New York was at the head Of the
4 Standard Oil array of counsel. The
record of evidence was probably the
largest ever. taken in a lawsuit, ex-
ceeding 100000 words.
The governments allegations. which
were filed by David p. Dyer, then
United States attorney, were based
largely upon an Investigation of the
oil business conducted by James r.
Garfield, commissioner of the bureau
Of corporations. at the behest of Pres
ident Roosevelt. This investigation
consumed year, and as a result of ii
ments containing S.193 counts, accord
ing to Commissioner Garfeld's annual
report of Dec. 8, 1906.
The taking of testimony was intrust
ed to Franklin Ferriss of st. Louis
who was appointed special master III
chancery in June, 1907.
The broad generalities Of the com
plant and answer presaged a consid
cradle latitude in the statements OF
witnesses, which was borne out wher
the hearings began Sept. 1, 1907, il
New York. From then until the fina
testimony was given in Chicago OF
Jan. %, 1909, 444 persons Answered
questions before Referee Ferriss. Tht
result was record of $4,000 printed
pages of testimony and exhibits which
was filed in st. Louis on March %
1909. The bulk of the testimony b,
the defense was given in New York.
The hearings reached their china,
when the defense called to the stant
Charles M. Pratt, John d. Rockefelle
and John D. Archbold. Exhibits wer,
introduced showing that in seven year.
the profits Of the business had totalet
nearly $5OO.0OO,0O0. the statement TO
the Standard Oil Company of Indian;
alone showing profits in 1906 Of NOR,
than $10,OO0.000 on capitalization o
one-tenth that amount.
John d. Rockefeller took the stand
Nov. IS, 1897, and was not excused
until Nov. "a. He admitted that thu
Standard Oil interests had received
rebates on shipments over certain rail
roads, some Of the officers of whicl
were stockholders in the Standard Oi
company. He said that he held stool
in nine railroads, several of which
handled Standard Oil products. Unde
cross examination be declared that th
oil business was hazardous because o
the danger from fire or the possible
exhaustion of the wells.
Arguments on the case began Apri
5, 1900, in st. Louis. continuing for
week. Both sides filed voluminou
briefs. upon which the arguments b,
Messrs. Kellogg, Morrison, johnson
Milburn, Rosenthal and other attor
neys were based. The court then tool
the case under Amusement
SIOUX COLONY FOR NICARAGUA
Indian Chief Sailed From Boston I,