Good morning.
Wednesday: A high near 78, increasing clouds, and northwest winds around 10 mph.
On this day in 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court orders, under the Sherman Act, the dissolution of Standard Oil within six months. The New York Times reported the news to readers:
Washington, May 15 — Final decision was returned late this afternoon by the Supreme Court of the United States in one of the two great trust cases which have been before it for so long — that of the Standard Oil Company. The decree of the Circuit Court for the Eighth Circuit directing the dissolution of the Oil Trust was affirmed, with minor modifications in two particulars. So far as the judgment of the court is concerned the action was unanimous, but Justice Harlan dissented from the argument on which the judgment was based.
The two modifications of the decree of the Circuit Court are that the period for execution of the decree is extended from thirty days to six months, and the injunction against engaging in inter-State commerce on petroleum and its products pending the execution of the decree is vacated. This latter modification is made distinctly in consideration of the serious injury to the public which might result from the absolute cessation of that business for such a time.
Broadly speaking, the court determines against the Standard Oil Company on the ground that it is a combination in unreasonable restraint of inter-State commerce….
On the same day of the same year, Janesville’s city council took a different legal step, not against restraint of trade, but in favor of it, to rid that fair city of fortune tellers:
1911 – Janesville Prohibits Fortune Tellers
On this date the Janesville City Council proposed ordinances banning fortune tellers and prohibiting breweries from operating bars in the city. For more on Wisconsin brewing history, see the Brewing and Prohibition page at Turning Points in Wisconsin History. [Source: Janesville Gazette].
One hundred years later, the people of Janesville may be thankful for the unrivaled prosperity and unmatched public safety the 1911 ban assured them.
Now, here’s a particular question from Google-a-Day: “In the 2010 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Annual Meeting, a rule change regarding ‘Get it in/Keep it in’ was added to what Section?”