Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-12
BIG TRUST. CASES
TO Be HEARD AGAIN
(continued from First Page.)


and by the bureas of corporations.
John ID. RockeIeilr. William Rookie
Teller. Henry II. Rogers. Henry NJ.
Flagler, John ID. Archbold. oliver ii.
Payne ard Charles NJ. Pratt were
named as individual defendants. The
Standard Oil Company Of New Jersey
headed list OF ia companies desig
mated as defendant corporations
The hearing finally came on. only
the Waters Fierce oil Company was
resident in the circuit. and the Stand
ard denied the right OF the court to
compel the other defendetns. outside
the circuit, TO appear In court. II lost
In this contention. Testimony was
taken In Missouri and in New York.
Finally, early in this year, over three
years after the filing OF the petition
in the circuit court the four judges
who had been called in 10 pass on the
suit announced the decree of the
court.
Ruling Of Court.
That decree upheld nearly every
contention the government made. II
did. however. dismiss some of the de-
PENDANT companies. II decreed that
the reorganization OF the Standard
Oil Company of New Jersey In 1889
constituted a combination in restraint
OF commerce among the states and
with foreign nations, and a cOmbina-
ton and conspiracy to monopolize that
commerce in violation Of section one
and two respectively Of the Sherman
antitrust act.
The principal or holding company
was enjoined from directing the al
fairs of the subsidiary corporations,
and the subsidiary corporations were
prohibited from paying dividends to
the holding company. The defendants
were enjoined from engaging in inter
state commerce, until the Illegal com
bination was discontinued.
1t did, however, grant permission
specifically for the distribution ratably
to the shareholders OF the holding
company OF the shares in the subsi-
diary corporations.
Appeal Taken.
Then the suit was brought TO the
Supreme Court of the United States
on the appeal of the Standard. On
account of the great importance OF
the case. il was advanced for an early
hearing.
On March IA OF the present year,
the final argument of the case be-
gan. 1t lasted three days. For the
standard Oil, the most brilliant law
yers obtainable pleaded its cause.
John G. johnson, of Philadelphia,
headed the list, and associated with
him were John q. Milburn, OF New
York. and ID. T. Watson, of Pittsburg.
For the government, Attorney General
Wickersham in person and Frank b.
Kellogg, of ST. Paul, directed the fight.
The government dwelt upon what II
termed the Standards enormous prof
its and high prices, the pipe lines as
al tlQ 10 HlOuODOig, nuhCiOuo WI
tracts in restraint of trade" railroad
rebates and discriminatory in con-
nection with the alleged monopoly by
the Standard Of railroad fabrication
and various forms OF unfair methods
Of competition"
Bases TOR Decree.
The circuit court baised its decree
on the single finding that the reor-
I ganization of the Standard Oil in 1899
was a violation Of the Sherman anti
trust Law. In its fight before the SUI
preme Court the government argued
that even II this were not violation
OF the law, other acts were. For in
stance there had been q continuing
conspiracy to monopolize the trade,
the government claimed. In support
of this contention of existing monop-
oily, it pointed to the finding of the
circuit court to the effect that the
Standard, from 1899 to 1907 produced
more than 1-1O OF the crude oil OBJ
tanned in this country.
Owned and operated more than IL
OF all the tank cars used to distri-
butte its products.
Manufactured more than "a OF all
the crude oil refined in the United
A Csafoo