The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-29
Comments Of the World and Herald.
The Investigation OF the Standard
OIL Combine q Love Feast.
The Committee and Counsel Sud-
denly Lose All Their Sparkle.
The Investigation Turns Out To Be
Nothing but Comedy
President Rookafeller Doesn't Seem to
Have Made as Rocky Fellow as
1t was Expected He Would Be
by the Examination.

NRw YoRK, Feb. 2s.-In regard TO the
examination Of John ID. Rockefeller, pres
ident OF the Ohio Standard Oil company,
by tho Senate trust investigating commit
tee, tho World says The investigation was
q love feast. The chairman OF the commit
tee was as subducd as one Of the new
shades Of spring costumes. Col. Bliss, the
usually efiervescent counsel, had no more
sparkle In him than can be found In a bot
tie of champagne uncorkcd the day before
yesterday. President Rockefeller, of Ohio,
was rs candid IN confidence man before
police court. Was the Standard octopus
monopolyp oh, by no means Did IL close
rchneries2 Certainly not. Did il limit the
production Of oil2 Decidedly no. Or force
corporations into the trust7 Not at all. Its
relations with outside reilneries are genial
and pleasant. And II makes no effort TO
fix prices. Its objects are wholly philan.
thropic, and II has never sought nor re-
ceived any special fayors from railroad cor.
porations This while the grasp OF the ter
| riblcmonopoly Is felt on our courts, in
our elections and in our State iegis-
laturcs. This while seats In the Sen.
ate Of the United States are filed
by the power Of the great combination.
This while the court records are crowded
with complaints OF the lawlcss and even
criminal acts Of tho agents Of the trust
crushing those who are 10 hold out against
its authority. This while the Standard oil
monster looms up as the boldcst and most
unscrupulous oil all oonspincies Of capital
| against fair competition and honest labor
What iarco IL an investigation which
puts ON kid gloves while handling the mill
lionaires Of the Standard oil iniquity, and
allows the testimony OF one OF the great
barons TO slip as smoothly along rs II glld-
ing through one OF his own oil pipes, and
10 20 ont 10 the world ~ the truthful story
Of the great monopoly
The Herald says; Mr.. John ID. Rookie
icllcr, the head Of the concern aud the
chief witness Of the day, was evidently
moro anxious 10 withhold than TO give the
information which II Ia the purpose Of he
investigation TO obtain. This Tact and it,
importance were recognized by Gen.
Pryor when hc insisted, and very proper
" We think, on. the production Of The
| trust books-a demand whic. his col
Il
pose. These books will not deny, refuse,
evadc or mako don't remember" answers.
They will tell Just what the people want
90 know and have right 10 know Let
the committee call for their production
An important end was attained yesterday
by the successful demand for the trust
agreement, which hns hitherto been care
fully kept In secrecy. Like the trust Il.
self, II IN novelty in law. IL discl0scs q
combine which takes 10 itself vasier powers
and seeks 10 cvade legal restraints aud ~.
sponsibilties 70 q greater extent than is
allowed 10 any combination or organiki.
ton of men other than these
trusts" known 10 the law. A cor
poration, whether transportation, man.
uiacturing or financial, II chartered by
the government and In under govern
mental control. A joint stock company
Is subject 10 well known legal conditions
aud Limitations. A partnership IL gov
erned by established rules Of law. An
ordinary trust Ia controlled by prcscribcd
legal rules and principles. But the great
combine" Of which the Standard Oil
trust Is the original and most conspicuous
specimen, looms up ~ legal nondcscript,
which wields mighticr powers than
greater railroad corporation, and claims
exemption from every wholesome rcgula-
ton and check imposed by the law either
upon a corporation, u joint stock concern,
n partnership or an ordinary trust
What Is the remedy Tho fiat step II
10 unearth the evil, that II the end OF the
pending investigation; the next step will
be- the enforcement Of existing laws and
he.cnactment Of new ones Trust" opc.
nations which omount 20 q conspiracy arc
criminal. Trust agreements and deal
ings which are against public policy are
void aud cannot be enforced. Trust"
combinations which arc not technically
criminal or unlawful should be- brought
under strict legal control and supervision,
Just ~ corporations, joint stock companies,
partnerships and legitimate trusts are.
Investigations nc Rn End.
NEw YoRK, Feb. 2s-The probably last
day Of the Senate general law committee,
opened today by the calling Of John q.
Problc, Of the envelope trust. II was cx-
pccicd that the examination Of witnesses
not favorably disposed toward the Stand.
ard oil trust would bo the business Of the
day, and counsel for the big monopoly
Cboate aud Dodd, were early on hand, M
were also John ID. Archibald and other
magnaics.
Chairman Arnold stated that the com.
mittcc would like 20 consult with counsel
before the investigation proceeded, aud
Counselors Bliss aud Pryor retired with
the seven senators and went into executive
session. After their return Chairman
Arnold, addressing himself 10 lawyer
Choaie, said that the committee had
adopted a rule In the case Of the Milk ox-
change limited that all books Of record
should be placed at the disposal Of the
committee for examination. andthat there.
fore they had decided 10 ask the Standard
oil people 10 comply with tho rc.
queft made by Gen. Pryor yesterday that
they produce the minute book Of the
boarl Of trustees Of the Standard oil trust.
Lawyer Choato doubts the right Oi the
committee ~ demand such books aud
asked until this afternoon 10 consider the
matter aud bis request was granted. The
examination Of j. o. Preblc Was then pro-
cccdcd with. lie produced copy Of the
agreement entered into by the individual
firms comprising the Standard Envelope
company rs directed BY the committee Of
Friday last
The glass trust was then taken up.
! ]. II. HcroY. Of lleroy & Maucner, was