Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

refining. transporting and selling petroleum
and It's products In this country.
Court Reviews History OF Combine.
MANY Of them were engaged In com
merce In these articles among the several
states and with foreign nations and were
naturally competitive.
During the ten years prior to 1879 the
seven Individual defendants had acquired
control OF many corporations. partnerships
and refineries that had been competing in
this business and placed the majority Of
the stock in those corporations and the
interests in property in business thus OBJ
tanned in various trustees, TO be held and
operated by them for the stockholders of
the Standard Oil Company Of Ohio, one
Of the nineteen companies in which the in
dividual defendants were principal stock.
holders and had thereby suppressed com.
petition among these corporations and
partnerships.
In 1879, they and their associates caused
all the trustees to convey their interests
in the stock. property and business of ali
these corporations TO five trustees, to be
held. operated and distributed by them for
the stockholders Of the Standard oil Com.
pany Of Ohio.
From 1879 until 1899 they prevented these
corporations and others engaged in this
business. Of which they secured control,
from competing In this commerce by caus-
ing the control Of their operations and,
generally of a majority Of their stocks. to
be held in trust for the stockholders of the
Standard Company OF Ohio. and from 1899
until 1899 they accomplished the same re-
suit by a similar stockholding device and
by the joint equitable ownership Of the
majority Of the stocks OF the corporations
I'm the year 1899 the seven individual de-
PENDANTS and their associates caused the
majority Of the nineteen companies to be
transferred to the Standard Of New Jersey
in exchange Of its stock so the latter com
pany thereby acquired the legal title to a
majority Of the stock Of each Of the nine
teen companies, the control of these ccm-
panies and of all the companies which they
controlled and the power to fix the rates
Of transportation, the purchase and selling
price Of petroleum and it's products which
all these corporations should pay and re-
oeive in the conduct Of their business in
commerce among the states and with for
eign nations.
Competition is Killed.
Sine that exchange Of stock the seven
individual defendants nave been and are
HNoNhAAoANtAS ahu OALlGGIS VI the OIhnQaiu
Company of New Jersey, which has exer-
cised, and is still using that power, and by
its use it has prevented, and is still pre-
venting, competition in among
the states and with foreign nations among
the corporations.
Held:
THE transaction constituted a combina-
ton and conspiracy in restraint Of and to
monopolize among the states
and with foreign nations in violation of
sections l and 2 Of the antitrust act of
July 2, 1890, and the government is en-
titled to an injunction against the farther
continuance and operation thereof"
The degree enjolns the seven Individual
defendants, the Standard Oil company and
its subsidiary corporations from c~ontinu-
ing or carrying into effect the Illegal COM
bination they have formed and from enter
Ing into any like combination or con-
spiracy, the effect Of which will be to re-
strain interstate m in petroleum
or its products, or to prolong the unlaw-
full monopoly of such obtained
by the defendants as stated In the decree
and they are forbidden from engaging OF
continuing in interstate until
they discontinue their illegal combina-
ton.
The decree takes effect twenty days
from the date of it's filing unless sus-
pended by an appeal to the supreme
court.