The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-02-15
THE DECISIONS ARE AWAITED
TRUST CASES NOW UP BEFORE
THE HIGHEST COURT.
Future of Two of Most Gigantic Cor
poratiOns Ever Organized in the
World Is at Stake.

pOratiOns Ever Organized in the
World Is at Stake.
The future of the greatest two
combinations ever organized in the
history of the world now rests in
the hands of the United States SUI
preme court. The fate of these gil
gantic corporal ons depends entirely
on the decision of five justices, con-
stituting a majority of the highest
tribunal in the country. From their
conclusions there is absolutely no
appeal, and the mandate issued must
be rigidly obeyed
More than $1,0OO,0OO,O0O of
capital is involved in the two cases.
Hundreds of thousands of employees
are deeply concerned, as their pros
perity and even continued employ
ment may depend on the outcome
Men and women scattered all over
the globe await the Interpretation of
the laws as applied to the concerns
at bar.
In point of real Importance the
case of the government against the
American Tobacco Company comes
first. More than $400,000,000 of
capital is interested. Representa-
tives of the trust are found in every
city, town and hamlet. Not only is
the dissolution of this company
prayed, but the court is asked to
declare it monopoly in restraint
of trade The monopoly clause of
the Sherman antitrust act has new
er been construed by the supreme
court. Upon the decision will rest
the fate of almost innumerable COM
panies now controlling all kinds of
manufactured products. Actions
may be instituted against thousands
of these corporations when a prece-
dent has been established by the
court of last resort
In point of sentiment and general
! interest the case of the government
against the Standard Oil Company
occupies first place in popular atten-
ton. This arises from the fact that
John D. Rockefeller and his million
atre associates have long been known
! to the reading public, their daily
actions being recorded and the sum
of their iniquities laid before the
people. The stock value at issue is
| $500, 900. The number of en-
! ployes affected is legion, running
well up into the hundreds of thous-
ands.
AS if thrown in for good measure
the corporation tax cases are now
also before the supreme court for
decision. A decision against the
government would mean that an in
come of $27,000,OO0 a year would
be withdrawn and make necessary
the raising of that much revenue by
some other variety of taxation. The
only alternative suggested is that
a stiff tax must be placed on com
mercial paper bank checks, notes,
kilograms, telephone calls and such
other daily utilities as would create
i'll feeling and irritation among the
masses. The sum of S27,OOO.OOO a
year is no light matter. when the
government is hard pressed for a
working balance, and the cry of
economy is blazoned on every bull
letln board by the executive and leg
lslative branches of the government
The fate of the trusts will vary
according to the decision, which will
not come down for two or three
months. Two weeks may be devoted
10 exchanging opinions on the vari-
Gus features of law and fact pre-
sented before a vote showing the
alignment of the court is taken
from the decision of this court there
can be no appeal, and the outcome
Is anXiously awaited.