The searchlight., 1911-11-03
ARRAY OF COUNSEL 70. APPEAR
eeFoRe THE v. 9. cIRciJIT
COURT IN TRENTON
lNU.S.STEEL DISSOLUTION
Loser to Appeal and Supreme Tribunal
Will Decide the Issue-oil and
Tobacco Rulings Are Not
Criterion.

Washington, ID. C.-The United
States Steel corporations first step in
the legal battle with the government
for its existence will be taken Monday,
Dec. 4. On that day an array of coun-
sci which promises to include some of
the most brilliant legal minds in
America. will formally appear before
the United States circuit court at
Trenton, N. j., in which the govern
ment's dissolution suit has been
brought.
On Jan. 2, 1912. the steel corpora
ton is expected to file its answer to
the governments sensational charges.
which hardly have been paralleled in
all the antitrust suits brought by the
department of justice.
Several legal maneuvers, of which
the steel corporations lawyers could
avail themselves, may postpone the
date OF their answer, for they have
the right to ask the court to give 80
days more grace. thus extending their
time to Feb. 2.
In the meantime. they may demur to
some OF the governments allegations
| or they may file a bill of exceptions
Either action would automatically de-
lay the actual beginning OF the trial
| The government expects that none of
the formalities of law will be over
looked by its opponents. II is pos
sible. however. that no legal technical
tiles may be thrown in the way in that
case, the earliest date upon which the
trial can begin is Jan. 2.
Three Judges to Name Master.
The procedure will be for Judges
Gray. Lanning and Burlington to ap-
point master to hear testimony. The
master so appointed will take evidence
In various parts Of the country. 1t re-
| quired year and a half to take the
testimony in the Standard Oil case
The government expects to do as well
/ in the steel case.
When the taking of testimony is fin
ished and both sides have been heard.
the circuit court will decide the issue
Whichever side loses will appeal and
by the operation of the so-called expe-
diting act. the case will jump to the
supreme court. where the fate Of the
greatest corporation in the world will
be decided.
Department of Justice officials do not
feel that the supreme court decisions
In the oil and tobacco cases will de-
eide the steel case. Attorney General
Wickersham declared he is convinced
more than ever that each case must
be settled on its own merits and that
J nil q.
be called models for solving the trust
question.
The attorney general was asked II
he hoped the steel corporation would
volunteer to readjust its organization
and avert further prosecution of the
suit. as has been done by the Interna.
tional Harvester company, the elec.
trical trust, the Southern Grocers'
trust, and some other combinations
He indicated that he expected no such
conciliatory movement.
Department of justice officials think
II will b. fight to the finish. Mr.
Wickersham declined to say II he Is
preparing or considering criminal pros
ecution of any of the defendants in
the case.
II was declared that Jacob NJ. Dick
inson, former secretary of war. who
has been engaged as the governments
special counsel. would occupy the
same position in the case against the
steel corporation that Frank b. Kel
logg Of St. Paul did In the Standard
Oil case.
II was intimated at the department
Of justice that the government con
siders its case practically complete
Special agents who have worked fol
he last two years or more still are
gathering some loose ends. but on the
whole the attorney general feels con
fident in going to trial on what evi
dence has been obtained.