Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-12

company
lsOs-Fning Of petition for dissolution Of
Standard.
lslo-Cirouit court at 81. Louis DEGREES
dissolution asked for by government.
lsIo-Appeal TO supreme court OF the
United states.
1s1o-Casa argued before supreme court
and ordered rsargued because OF death
Of Just4es Brewer.
wAsHINGTON. April 1.-THE supreme
court Of the United States today reas-
signed for argument the cases OF the United
states against the American Tobacco com
pany and the Standard oil company.
The reargunlent Of these cases comes as
the direct result OF the death Of Justice
Brewer This jurist died Just a few days
after the standard on case had been
argued.
* Justice Moody was unable to partici-
pate IN the consideration of these cases
only seven justices were left to give
decision.
Attorney General wicksrsham was as
much surprised as anyone al the sudden
turn in the fight against the corporations
lie expressed. isis. Ignorance OF any further
rknowledge OF the action of the court other
than the announcement OF Chief Justice
Fuller that Nos s1s and 81. the American
Tobacco company VS.. the United states
and the United States vs.. the American
Tobacco company. and No. 2s5, the Stand
ard OH company Of New Jersey vs. the
United states. are restored TO their places
on the docket for reargument"
Way BE Postponed Year.
Unless a motion TO advance the cases is
made they viii not come up in the regular
order Of business for nearly a year.
-.
big cases we're 70 be heard about the capitol
an afternoon. These were based in all
instances on the record OF the members
Of the court. particularly in the Northegn
Securities case.
Six members Of the present bench sat in
that case. justices Harlan, MeKenna and
Day were OF the majority that ordered the
dissolution OF the Northern Securities com
pany. Chief Justice Fuller and Justices
White and Holmes were opposed to the
action.
Many Of the runors were that the jus
tiecs had divided IN the same way on the
Standard oH and the tobacco cases. As
20 NEsr 1us,ice Lurton, the seventh mem
bcr. sg Coubt was expressed.
History of Litigation.
For years standard on" has been under
the scrutiny OF state and federal govern
ments. During the last four years the liti-
cation which resulted In todays action has
engaged the attention OF the federal courts
Since March Il of this year the supreme
court has weighed the controversy OF these
years. Today came another postpoaement
ThA first great fight over the methods
OF Tic standard OH interests was directed
against the Standard on company Of Ohio
As a result OF the litigation, this orgRni
H-sNa -
in'o the hands OF trusts OF one form and
another. and more litigation followed. Their
the standard OH company Of New Jersey
was Feorganized in iSs9 with It's capita
stock OF s1io oOoO.o 600. ii became the holding
company, that Is, Il acquired the stock Of
nineteen other oil companies. which n
turn controlled a stlu larger number o.
companies engaged in various branches O.
the oil business. The task OF fighting
standard or had outgroVn the states
and the federal Government took up th'
cudgeL
The bureau Of corporations was organ
ired. and as its first assignment. undertook
an investigation Of the Standard on: II
reached into the very vitals Of the cor
poration." according TO the description o.
that inquiry given in court by the stand
ards counsel
Then in 1905 Justice Moody, now of th'
supreme court. then attorney general o
the United States. directed the filing OF
petition IN the federal circuit court Tor th'
eastern district Of Missouri FOR the dis
solution of tho standard on company o
New jersey, as a eombinatlo7 in restrain
OF Interstate trade and a monopoly. al
m violation of The sherman antitrust law
The petition was loaded with the ammuui
uon collected by the states and by IN,
purcan q corporations.
John d. Rockefeller. William Rockefeller
herry r. Rogers. Henry NJ Flagler. Johl
H. Arehbold. oliver H. Payne and Char e,
~ Pratt wcre named as indiyidusl defend
ants. The standard OH company OF Nev
Jsfsey beaded list Of ia companies dssiE
mated as defendant corporations
First HeartnE "a 81. Louia.
The hearing finally came on. only IN
Natcrs-Piercesf3u compaly vas reslden
IN the circuiC ana The standard denied n
riglt of the court 70 compel the other ae
4 fendants. outside the circuit. 10 appear il
y court q lost in this contcntl0n. Tesu
~ -oHy was taken On Misson,i and IN Ne,
h York Fralb, early iy this year owe
CContinued on second Pase)