The Washington herald., 1911-01-13

Court Of the United Stctes yesterday as
| great economic philanthropy. The
man conceded to have been most promi-
| nent in developing the gigantic corpora
tion was denominated a business genius,
to be compared with the stars that shine
in the world Of art and literature.
For more than three hours John G.
Milburn, Of Buffalo. attorney for the
Standard Oil Company, defended the
corporation and John D. Rockefeller
against the charge of having conspired
to restrain trade in contravention Of the
Sherman antitrust law. Mr.. Milburn, in
fellers great business philanthropy. COM
monty known as the Standard Oil, de-
clared that the idea flashed through the
mind Of Mr. Rockefeller that volume"
was the only cure-all for the ills that at
that time beset the rapidly developing
oil industry.
Mr.. Milburn's voice trembled with emo
ton when he recited the great sacrifices
made by his client to save the great
production of oil in the Pennsylvania
field during 1.-The '70s,' when. at great
expense. upon borrowed capital, upon a
credit strained almost to the breaking
point, the Standard extended its pipe line
holdings and increased its storage facili-
ties to an enormous extent to take care
of the oil production and prevent waste
and save the producers from losing
money.
wickersham Only Smiles.
Attorney General wickersham smiled
and took notes betimes. and Frank b.
kellogg. who has been relentlessly pur-
suing the Standard Oil Company for sew
eral years. became more and more dis
gusted apparently at the praise being
heaped upon the "malefactor Of great
wealth. and savagely wrote upon the
margin Of his prepared speech some of
the things he will say in answer to Mr..
Milburn to-day.
There were very few questions pro-
pounded by the justices yesterday. Most
of these related to the evolution of the
Standard Oil Company of New Jersey.
of the various transfers Of stock. the
trusteeships, and the effect upon share
holders of a dissolution Of the New Jer-
sey corporation and the distribution Of
its holdings among the shareholders. Mr..
Milburn expressed much anxiety for the
5000 shareholders, many OF them people
in moderate circumstances, if the decree
Of the lower court ordering a distribu-
ton Of the shares in the twenty COM
panieS that make up the New Jersey
corporation stands.
II don't want to predict havoc" sug-
gested Mr.. Milburn. by way OF reassur-
ance. Il am an optimistic person. But
don't see how it would be possible
to make this distribution which the de-
cree Of the lower court orders to be
made within thirty days.
Asked by Justice Lurton il the Stand
ard Oil Company of New Jersey were
not in 4 class with the Northern Securi-
ties Company. Mr.. Milburn entered upon
aYn.a of ho N which
Mr. Hartman made large stock pur-
chases as a preliminary to the merger
Chief Justice White interposed the sug-
gestion that in the Northern Securities
case new properties were acquired, while
in the case Of the Standard Oil Com
pany Of New Jersey. that corporation ac-
quired no new property, but simply sue
ceeded to the powers of the trustees
created by the Standard Oil Company of
Ohio, after the dissolution of that trust
was ordered by the Supreme Court Of
Ohio.
Mr.. AIilburn assented to this statement.
the two corporations, and
Justice Hughes Illuminated the subject
still further oy few very direct ques-
tions which brought from Mr.. Milburn
the information that when the New Jer-
sey corporation supplanted the trustees
there was no change of ownership, but
simply q change of control. the New Jer- |
sey corporation taking the place of tine |
controlling the twenty companies |
that had formerly been controlled by the |
trust under the Ohio law.
Frank B. Kellogg will reargue the case
FOR the government to-day. He will be |
followed by c. L. Watson for the Stand |
ard Oil Company, who will be followed in |
turn by Attorney General Wickersham. |
The case for the Standard Oil Company |
will be closed by John G. johnson, of |
Philadelphia The arguments will extend |
over into next week. and will not be con-
,luded before Tuesday or Wednesday.