The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-01-26
STANDARD OIL CASE HISTORY
Great Trust Ordered Dissolved by
United States Circuit Court.

NTed1 trust OVoereo OjSSoIveo. by
United States Circuit Court.
When the United States circuit
court for the eastern district of Mis-
souri, recently handed down at st. Paul
its decision ordering the dissolution of
the Standard Oil Company of New Jer-
sey 1t was the second time the courts
had grappled with the great oil COM
bination in an effort to break its power,
The government filed its complaint
in the Standard Oil last in November,
1906. before the United States circuit
court for the eastern district Of Mis-
souri,. The complaint was directed
against the parent organization, known
as the Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey, with its various subsidiary cor
porations. 1t was also directed against
seven individuals-namely, John D.
Rockefeller. William Rockefeller, Hen
~ M. Flagler, Henry d. Rogers now
dead. John D. Archbold, Oliver 81.
Payne and Charles M. Pratt. The
main company, its branches and these
individuals were charged with having
entered into an agreement, combina-
ton and conspiracy to restrain trade
and commerce among the several
states, to monopolize the trade in Pc
troleum, In its purchase and its ship
ment and transportation by pipe line.
steamships and by rail; also in the
manufacture and refining Of petroleum.
The United States asked for a per-
petual injunction and for the dissolu-
ton Of the Standard Oil combination.
Hearings were held In New York.
Washington. Chicago, Cleveland and
st. Louis. about 400 witnesses being
examined. The case finally reached
the full bench Of four judges compris-
ing the United States circuit court of
the st. Louis district. of which Judge
Sanborn is a member. The arguments
In behalf of the government were made
by Frank B. Kellogg of st. Paul and
ex-United States Attorney Morrison OF
Chicago, while John G. Milburn OF
New York was at the head of thu
Standard Oil array of counsel. The
record Of evidence was probably the
largest ever taken in a lawsuit, ex
ceeding 100000 words.
The governments allegations, which
were filed by David p. Dyer, then
United States attorney, were based
largely upon an investigation of the
oil business conducted by James r.
Garfield. commissioner of the bureau
~ 0rnor,oti0ro ~ <ho Loho.% oe ID.>.
ident Roosevelt. This investigation
consumed a year, and as a result OF it
various grand juries returned indict-
ments containing S,193 counts, accord
ing to Commissioner Garfield's annual
report of Dec. 8, 1906.
The taking of testimony was intrust-
ed to Franklin Ferriss of st. Louis.
who was appointed special master in
%chancery in June, 1907.
The broad g%eneralities Of the COM
plant and answer presaged a consid-
cradle latitude in the statements Of
witnesses, which was borne out when
the hearings began Sept. 1. 1907. in
New York. From then until the final
testimony vas given in Chicago on
Jan. %, 1909. 444 persons answered
questions before Referee Ferriss. The
result was a record of $4,000 printed
pages Of testimony and exhibits which
was filed in st. Louis on March %.
1909. The bulk of the testimony by
the defense was given in New York.
The hearings reached their climax
when the defense called to the stand
Charles M. Pratt, John D. Rockefeller
and John D. Archbold. Exhibits were
introduced showing that in seven years
the profits Of the business had totaled
nearly $780, 900, the statement for
the Standard Oil Company Of Indiana
alone showing profits in 1906 of more
than $1O.OOO,ON on a capitalization of
One-tenth that amount.
John D. Rockefeller took the stand
Nov. 18, 1897. and was not excused
until Nov. "a. He admitted that the
Standard Oil interests had received
rebates on shipments over certain rail-
roads, some of the officers Of which
were stockholders in the Standard Oil
company. He said that he held stock
in nine railroads. several of which
handled Standard Oil products. Under
cross examination he declared that the
oil business was hazardous because of
the danger from fire or the possible
exhaustion of the wells.
Arguments on the cas- began April
8, 1909, in st. Louis. continuing for a
week. Both sides filed voluminous
briefs. upon which the arguments by
Messrs. Kellogg. Morrison, johnson.
Milburn, Rosenthal and other attor-
neys were based. The court then took
the case under ~advisement.
SIOUX COLONY FOR NICARAGUA