Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-28
Attorney Generals Desire
for More Than One Jurist
to Hear Steel Dissolution
Suit to be Granted.
NO DELAY WILL BE
PERMITTED IN TRIAL
Standard Case Dragged in
Courts Five Years, But
Decision in That Case is
Held to Apply to This.

Trenton, N. j., Oct. Pit was
Guthoritatively announced here today
that three judges will hear the case
of the government against the United
States Steel corporation. The judges
are George Gray Of Wilmington. Del;
Joseph Burlington Of Pittsburgh, Pa,
and William M. Lanning Of Trenton.
These judges recently handed down
a decision in favor Of the government
to dissolve the alleged powder trust.
Subpoenas were issued today for all
the defendants.
The United States district attorneys
once here was not optimistic Of a
speedy trial of the suit. In the case
of the suit against the powder trust,
1t was pointed out, twelve volumes
represent the testimony and pleadings
taken during an interval OF three
years after the fling of the suit. The
case against the steel corporation con-
sidered even more far.reaching than
the powder suit, will hardly be com.
pleted within less than this time, they
believe. Even then, they point out,
the final decision may be delayed two
years or more by appeal to the United
States supreme court.
The law provides for the appoint
ment fan examiner or examiners, AZ.
ter filing Of the answer, to take testi-
mony. The examiners will be named
by the court and will conduct public!
hearings to take first the testimony
offered by the government, and then
Al = -, -
ment's rebuttal. Should the defense
then desire, 1t may present testimony
in sur-rebuttal. There Is no time
limit for the taking Of the testimony.
Copies of the governments petition
were served upon Charles Steele,
Daniel G. Reid and, John D. Rookie
feller, Jr., directors Of the steel cor
poration.
Will Hasten Hearing Of Case.
Washington, D. c.. Oct. 27.Now
that the governments fight to dis
solve the United States Steel corpora
ton has been fairly started there will
be no slow movements In the battle.
When the bill was filed in the
United States circuit court at Tren-
ton yesterday asking for the dissolu-
tion of the corporation, and its sub.
sidiaries, Attorney General Wicker
sham also filed "a certificate of public
Importance" This states that the case
is OF utmost Importance to the govern.
ment and asks that 1t be heard by a
bench Of four justices. Ordinarily 1t
would be heard by only one. Although
the steel corporation will have four
81 20 tn fhxa eyru
ernment's allegation that it Is dozen
trusts within a trust, "a menace to
the nation" and practically the most
complete monopoly ever perfected in
this country, there are possibilities for
other developments in the meantime.
Attorneys for the corporation may
demur to the governments charges.
In that event there might be some de-
lay. After that possibility Is disposed
OF, the circuit court pro obably will ap-
point q master to hear testimony, and
battle Of giants will begin.
oil Decision Is Held To Apply.
Attorney General Wickersham and
other department Of justice officials
expect to make progress much more
rapidly than was done in the Standard
OIL and tobacco cases. It was a little
less than five years from the time
those cases were started until they
reached the supreme court of the
United States for decision. The
supreme courts decision in those,
however, Is expected to expedite the
trial OF this case.
The governments view is that the
courts decision in the oil case as re-
CARDS stock holdings and inter-hold
ings can be applied to the steel cor
poration.
The governments purpose Is to
show that the steel corporation is only
q giant trust to hold at least a dozen
more.
The bill charges that the Federal
Steel Co., the Carnegie Co. Of New
Jersey, the American Steel and Wire
Co. OF New Jersey, the National Tube
Co. the National Steel Co., the Ameri-
can Tinplate Co., the American Steel
Hoop Co., American Sheet Metal Co.
and others are alleged trusts In them
selves and combinations to monopolize
trade.
The government asks that all these
companies be dissolved and set back
in the Integral units Of which they
fnr,n .ss,od m page Sl