The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-01

Tobacco Trust and All AC.
CeSSOrieS Illegal.
ARE IN RESTRAINT OF TRADE
Supreme Court Grants Corporation
Six Months to Reorganize,
But Evasion in Guarded
Against.

Washington, May 30.-The govern
meat won a sweeping victory in its
dissolution suit against the tobacco
trust
The American Tobacco company and
its accessories and subordinate cor
porations and companies, including the
British American Tobacco company,
IN English corporation, were held by
the supreme court OF the United
States To be co.Operators in a combi'
nation Illegal under the Sherman anti
trust act.
The court sent the case back to the
lower court with directions to hear
further the parties so as to ascertain
whether a new condition could not DO
re.created in harmony with the law.
At the same time it specifically guards
against any evasion Of the decree.
Justice Harlan concurred In part
with the courts opinion and d.ssented
in part.
The decision was handed down by
the chief justice, after day devoted
to clearing the calendars for adjourn
meut till next fall.
1t comes as the end Of a long fight,
second only perhaps to that Of the
government against the Standard OIL,
the decision in which was handed
down two weeks ago.
The court decreed.
"Flrst-That the combination In and
Of itself. as well as each and all OF It's
clements composing II, whether cor
poraie or individual. whether consid'
cred collectively or separately. be de-
creed to be IN restraint OF trade and
an attempt 20 monopolize and mo-
nopolilatlon within the first and sec
ond sections Of the antitrust law.
Second That the court below, in
CIDER % give effective force to our
decree this regard. be directed to
hear the parties. by evidence or 9th
erwlsc. as Il may be deemed proper
fce the purpose Of ascertaining and
determining upon some plan or method
Of dlssol,ing the combination and OF
rccscatine. out Of the elements now
composing il. n new condition which
shall be honestly in harmony with and
not repugnant to the law.
Third That lot the accomplish
ment OF these purposes. taking into
view the difficulty Of the situation, a
period ~ six months Is allowed from
the receipt Of our mandate. with
leaves. however. in the event, in the
Judgment OF the court below, the ne
cossitios Of the situation require to
extend such period to a further time
not 10 exceed sixty days.
"Fourth-That in the event, before
the expiration Of the period thus fixed,
n condition OF disintegratiOn in har-
monv with ,he law is not brought
about. either as the consequence OF
the action Of the court in determining
an issue on the subject or In accepting
a plan agreed upon. 1t shall be the
duty Of the court. either by way OF an
Injunction restraining the movement
Of the products Of the combination in
the channels Of interstate or foreign
commerce. or by the appointment OF
receiver. to give effect to the re-
Quirements Of the statute
Pending the bringing about Of the
result. directed by the court. each and
all OF the defendants. individual as
we'll as corporations. are to be re-
strained from doing any act which
might further extend or enlarge the
POWER OF the combination, by any
.,oare or davica yvhafeoqvpr