The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-02
Standard Oil and Tobacco Com
pany Cases to Be Heard
at Once.
LITIGATION INVOLVES
RIGHT OF EXISTENCE
If Supreme Tribunal Afllrms
Lower Courts, the Combines
Must Dissolve.

WASHINGTON. Jan. Prosecutions
plish the dissolution of Standard OIL and
Of the American Tobacco organizations
embodying the greatest ANTITRUST"
fight of the generation. will be taken
up for the second time by the supreme
court OF the United States at the be-
ginning OF It's work for the New Year.
Continuing Its consideration OF affairs
OF government. the court will immediate
" afterwards give it's attention to the
constitutionalIty Of the corporation tax
provisions OF the Payne-Aldrich tariff
act.
All three cases attracted worldwide at
tention when first presented 70 the court
about a year ago. With the object OF
procuring consideration by full bench
they were set for reargument on jan
uary g. Intervening cases VIII cause a
delay until probably January ., when II
is believed the arguments in the tobacco
case will begin.
The Standard oil and the corporation
tax arguments will follow. About three
days Will be required for each.
The Standard OIL and the tobacco cases
put the Sherman antitrust law to the
most crucial test TO which II has been
subjected during the twenty years OF
It's existence. The corporation tax cases
place on trial the power Of the federal
government over
May Define Uncle Sam 8 Power.
The contention has been made that
IL the Standard OIL and the tobacco or
ganizations are dissolved the govern
ment will be forced TO license corpora
tions in order 10 allow legitimate busi-
ness TO be carried on.
The corporation tax decision may de-
fine the power OF the federal govern
ment over corporations so as to guide
this proposed subsequent legislation. In
a. 1.,, 80,
taxes depend upon the decision.
Although the tobacco case is TO he ar
gued first the Standard Oil suit has
attracted more attention. ATTORNEY Gen
Standard OH case as probably the most
important that ever came before the
court.
The Standard Oil suit was instituted
In 1906 In the circuit court OF the United
States for the eastern division OF the
eastern judicial district Of Missouri
The federal g1veTnment tSs vas the som som
dard Oil company OF New Jersey. s a
holding company. acquired since 1899 and
held by direct stock ownership. sixty five
legged. owned the stock Of forty mine
other companies. making a total Of ia
companies The government asked that
this organization be dissolved under the
Sherman antitrust law.
y year was taken by the four judges
in the circuit court TO pass on the case.
BY unanimous agreement decree was
entered by the court dIssovinG the or
ganization. both because II was In Ere
straint of interstate commerce" and be-
cause it was attempting TO monopo-
lize." Before the decree became effect
I've an appeal carried the case TO the
supreme court
Tobacco Trust Case.
The tobacco case was instituted in 1907
in the circuit court OF the United States
for the southern district OF New York.
The government here, too. was the com
planning party. Allies In the various
branches of the tobacco business. with
combined assets OF more than $500, 900 900.
constituted the organization which the
government sought 10 have the court dis
solve,
The four Judges each rendered separate
opinions In the tobacco case, but three