Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-11-26
Constitutes Illegal Combination.

COuSL1CuCoS 1ueSdl OOmDmaC10n.
"Held: The transaction constituted
a combination and conspiracy in re-
straint of and to monopolize com
merce among the states and with for
eign nations in violation of sections
1 and 2 of the antitrust act of July
@ 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 it's 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 will be to restrain in
terstate commerce in petroleum or it's
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-
gazing 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,
Vandeventer of Cheyenne. Hook of
Leavenworth and Adams of St. Louis.
Judge Sanborn, the presiding judge,
wrote the opinion and the decree, in
which all TIE judges concurred, 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. Milburn of Buff
talo, David T. Watson of Pittsburg,
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, H. H. Rogers, John
D. Archibold, Oliver H. Payne, Charles
NJ. Pratt, the Standard Oil company of
New Jersey, and about 20 other cor
porations from maintaining a combi-
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 81 volumes and &C.
'upied more than 10000 printed pages,
and the arguments of counsel more
than 800 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
the purchase and selling
price of petroleum and its products
which all of these corporations should
Day and receive in the conduct of their
business in commerce among the states
md with foreign nations.
"Since that exchange of stock the
even individual defendants have been
Ind are stockholders and officers OF
he Standard company of New Jersey,
which exercised and is still using that
'ower, and by its use it has prevented
md is still preventing competition IN
commerce among the states and with
oreign nations among the corpora
ions.D
Oil Trust Case in Brief.
The Standard Oil company was
rganized in 1870.
In 1879 it began purchasing other
efneries.
Alleged by government first rebates
aid in 1872. In 1879 secret trust
greement was made according to the
overnment.
In 1882 the Standard Oil trust was
ormed, the stock of the company be-
ng turned over to the trustees TO
manage the business, the, trustees man
ged about 40 companies.
In 1892 the trust was dissolved by
he order of the supreme court OF
)hio. At the time it is alleged to
ave held 11s companies. Government
lleges tho trust secretly continued I'M
il 1899.
In 1899 Standard Oil company OF
Few Jersey recognized as holding
ompany.
Dissolution suit fled November Is,
BOG, in st. Louis.
Franklin Ferris appointed special ex-
miner to take testimony June 20, lsO''
inished hearings February, 1909.
Case argued before judges Of the
Eighth United States circuit court OF
ppeals April, 1909.
Decision rendered in favor Of the
overnment November 20, 1909, all
ldges concurring. J.