The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-04-05
LAST ARGUMENTSARE OPENED


ST. LOUIS. April 5.-POinting
out abuses, which it is alleged are
proved by testimony, the final
brief Of the government in the
suit to dissolve the Standard Oil
company of New Jersey, the one
hundred million dollar ROckefel-
Ter holding company, was filed to-
day in the United States circuit
court here, and oral arguments
were begun.
Last Chapter Of Long Fight.
For ten days or two weeks the
attorneys for the government and
the Standard Oil company will
make final argument on the evil
dence in this, the last chapter, of
the long war to disrupt the oil
trust.
John D. Rockefeller was not
present at the hearing today. In
stead he, with Archbold and other
leaders in the oil industry, will
be referred to only as page SO
and so of the volumes of printed
evidence that have been laid be-
fore the judges.
Under the procedure of the cir
cult court only that evidence can
be presented which has already
been gathered and printed.
In summing up the facts re-
garding the monopoly, the brief
says:
"The question is whether the
Standard, as constituted, is a le-
gal organization. II the court
holds that the corporation is le-
gal, then there can be no doubt
that 1t is not guilty of monopoly.
But IL the court makes such a
ruling the company will have
carte blanche to pursue its own
methods and can eliminate every
competitor inside two years.
"We do not wish to be under
stood to be discouraging enter
prise or taking a position against
the legitimate competition, but II
the Sherman act means anything
it means monopoly is acquired by
such methods of competition as
practiced by this concern. Unless
1t is enforced the small corpora
ton or individual who wishes to
engage in business will have alb
solutely no opportunity at ALL"
Hint at COnfiscation.
The government hints at con-
fiscation of the Standards pro-
ducts IL the court is unable to get
the relief required. The brief de-
clares that the government has
hesitated to invoke the drastic
remedy Of confiscation but ex-
presses doubt whether any other
remedy suggested by law is ade-
quate to stop the encroachments
of such combinations. In this
connection the brief says:
Either the Sherman act had
better be repealed or 1t should be
enforced so that the people will
respect it."
Tie brief alleges that the testi-
mony proves that q monopoly is
maintained by the Standard in
various lines. 1t refers to the alb
solute monopoly throughout the
Rocky mountain region ana in
most of the Pacific coast states.
Earmarks Of Oppression
The government makes the fol-
lowing statement:
Eve venture to say that there
never was q combination before
q court bearing SO many earmarks
of oppression, suppression of COM
petition and monopoly as this
Standard combination"
It is alleged that the testimony
shows that the Standard pursued
a system Of unfair competition
whereby independents either were
driven out of business or so re-
'stricted that the Standard prac-
tically controlled the prices and
|monopolixed the commerce.
The brief points out various al
legged unfair methods of compe-
tition.
"The Standard has substantial
ly IS per cent of the business Of
purchasing crude oil In the fields
and fully the same proportion of
the business of transporting oil to
the refineries and manufacturing
It into finished product. II has
81 per cent Of the railroad lubri-
eating oil business and 80 per
cent of the domestic marketing
and export business, and SO on"
The government asks that an
Injunction be granted preventing
the continuance of the monopoly,
as well as against any arrange
|ment whereby there csn be linn
|itation upon prices, q division OF
territory or restriction Of output.
The government declares that
Il A impossible for the Standard
Ito have boen innocent Of re6oiv-
ing upccln1 ratQo from tn flhlcn-