The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-03
SUPREME. COURT
I To GET after
STANDARD OIL
Government Reopens Great
Fight Against That and the
Tobacco Trust {
Desired Result Is to Cause Dissolu-
ton of Two Biggest of Mo-
nOpOlieS.

Washington, Jan. 3-ProseCutions
by the government. designed to ac-
complish the dissolution Of STANDARD
OH and of the American Tobacco
organization embodying the greatest
"anti-trust'' fight Of the generation.
will be taken up for the second time
by the Supreme court of the United
States at the beginning of it's work
for the New, Year. Continuing its
consideration of affairs Of government,
the court will Immediately afterwards
give it's attention to the constitution
atty OF the corporation tax provisions
of he Payne-Aldrich tariff act.
ALI three cases attracted worldwide
attention when first presented to the
court about a year ago. With the OBJ
ject of procuring consideration by g.
full bench, they were set for rear
gument today. Intervening cases
will cause a delay until probably Jam
uary 5. when it Is believed the argu-
ments in the Tobacco case Will begin
The Standard Oil and the corporation
tax argument will follow. About
three days will be required for each.
The Standard OH and the Tobacco
cases put the Sherman antitrust law
to the most Crucial test to which it
has been subjected during the twenty
years OF it's existence. The corpora
ton tax cases place on trial the power
of the federal government over cor
porations. The contention has been
made that If the Standard Oil and the
Tobacco organizations are dissolved
the government will be forced to IL
cense corporations in order to allow
legitimate business 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.
incidentally. about $25,00O.000 annual
1y in taxes depend upon the decis-
ion.
The Standard Oil suit was instituted
in 1905 In the circuit court of the
United States for the eastern division
Of the Eastern judicial district of Mis-
souri,. The federal government was
the complaining party. 1t claimed
that the Standard Oil Company Of
acquired since 1899 and held by direct
stock ownership. IS companies. These
65. it was alleged, owned the stock Of
40 other companies. making a total
of LA companies. The government
solved under the Sherman antitrust
law.
The tobacco case was, instituted in
1907 IN the circuit court OF the UNIT
ed States for the southern district of
New York. The government, here too.
was l1I0 CUIupldlI1Il8 IctTCy. kAliIoS III
the various branches OF the tobacco
business, with combined assets OF
more than $40o. Oo0, 900. sconstft uted the
organization which the government
sought to have the court dissolve.
The four judges each rendered sep
alate opinions in the Tobacco case.
but three OF them united In a decree,
oldines anany Of the corporations bad;
entered into- 4 cofnbinatdon Gin re-
straint OF trade, In violation of the.
first section Of the Sherman anti TRUST
act. These three decreed the dissolu-
ton Of this combination
The application of the Sherman anti
TRUST law to these two organic Nations,
involves not only an investigation in
TO the facts, but includes an interpre-
tation OF the law itself. The principal
uncertainty in regard to the law clus-
ter around three words in the statute.
These words form the basis Of three
questions: What is "comnerce?'' What
is restraint of trade or commerce?
and What is 1T to "monopolize