Anti-Trust Suits Filed Against Companies

Government beginning to take action By Michelle ArmstrongSpielberg

Company over the years attempting to address his consolidation of oil refineries. None of these had any significant impact on his companys growth. However, President Roosevelt has recently taken steps to strengthen the laws that apply to large corporations and has increased enforcement efforts, showing the power the government can exercise over even the largest businesses. Prior to filing this case, the Justice Department had filed another antitrust suit against another large company. The Northern Securities Company was going to monopolize a couple of transcontinental railroads. Entrepreneurs James J. Hill and J.P. Morgan formed the company. They connected two of the most used railroads, the Burlington and the Northern Pacific, and attempted to create a monopoly. The government successfully

prevented this unfair consolidation. The Justice Departments suit against standard oil follows a recent decision from the Supreme Court that found that several Chicago beef trusts had illegally agreed to fix the price of live cattle. This group of cases shows the governments efforts to finally put teeth into the Sherman Antitrust Act. However, the act currently only reaches unlawful practices which come to light long after the damage to the economy and consumers has been done.

The Justice Department filed an antitrust suit this past week in the nations capital against John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil Company. Rockefellers company is accused of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, which was passed about ten years ago. Due to its many resources, Standard Oil is expected to fight the charges vigorously which will likely delay the resolution of the case. Rockefeller has remained hidden from the public, and very little information is known about him. It appears that Rockefeller slowly developed his giant corporation without any interference. There have been multiple actions filed against the Standard Oil