The times., 1899-05-10
The Industrial Commission to
Enquire Into Trusts.
Many Witnesses Expected From the
Standard Oil Company.
The Sugar Organization to BE Made
the Subject for n Searching
Examination.


monty known as trusts which have be-
come a part of the latter-day business of
the country. The Commission has, after
careful deliberation. adopted a syllabus in
dicating the scope Of its investigation.
'rThe investigation of trusts or indus
trial Combinations, 1t is understood" TO
quote the deliyerance, will include any
or all individuals, firms, corporations, or
combinations that from any cause, whether
control of patents, favors OF transportation
companies large capital, or otherwise, may
apparently so prevent or regulate, or at
tempt so to regulate competition and pro-
duction that they can fix the price OF their
products for the whole or part of mar
ket with little or no reference TO acts OF
existing competitors, or to the cost OF pro-
duction and distribution
BY way of inviting information from
those who are for the trusts" as well as
those against them, the Commission has
given notice that it wishes TO secure from
every source trustworthy information re-
garding the methods of organizing and con-
Quoting such enterprises, and the effects of
such organizations upon their rivals In
trade, upon employees, and upon society at
large. To that end the Commission viii
collect reports and examine witnesses. But
IL also invites statements of facts along
these lines from anyone who is in a po-
siiion to give them. Speculations regard
ing the causes or results are not now need
ed; but facts of such nature that the in
formant could verify them by an affidavit
will be gladly received from anyone.
IL is to be understood that the enquiry
thus set on fout is not in the nature of an
Investigation nf any of the syndicates with
a view to holding them up TO public criti-
cism. The members, it is said. will start
in with no preconceived notions as TO their
value or effect and their only purpose rs
10 follow out the instructions of Congress
that they investigate into conditions, ex-
ceptionai or new, that seem to touch the
public welfare and that they secure data
that may be of use TO Congress and the
Legislatures of the States in the con-
sideration of legislation that may here
after he proposed concerning them. There
is not a member of the board so far as
can be ascertained from conversations
with them who knows whether the
trusts" are economically advisable or
not or whether they are beneficial or
otherwise to the industries of the country,
or whether they injuriously affect prices
or limit competition or whether they are
hurtful TO the interests Of the great labor
masses who constitute the greater part of
the nations population These are topics
about which the Commissioners are seek
ing Enlightenment, and il may be that their
enquiry will culminate in proposition
that some legislation be had concerning
them. II they ought TO be encouraged and
can be encouraged by legislation the Com
missions recommendation. it is said, will
doubtless be that way. II there are phases
OF them that should be modified or their
methods suggest that a brake should be
put on them somewhere the Commission S
Recommendation will doubtless be that
way, and il Tay be that at the end the
Commission VIII merely submit the data TO
Congress without any suggestions at all
a. tc legislation. The outcome of the en-
quiry is something that cannot be pre-
ticted.
Tor the intelligent prosecution of the
enquiry, the Commission, it is said,
has made careful preparation. Two or
three months ago il entered into an en-
gagement with Prof. J. W. jerks, of Ith-
aca. to arrange the preliminaries.
II is now following the line he indicated
with some notifications that do not, how
ever, affect his general plan The pro-
fessor has advised two collateral methods
of enquiry. One of these is the use of a
printed circular schedule making the most
searching enquiry into the plans of opera
tion Of the syndicates and calling for de-
tails as TO capitalization, prices of raw ma
terial, and product, profits, their effect on
labor and industry, and their general
economic tendencies.
This schedule is TO be sent to the proper
official Of each of the syndicates with q
request that he respond as fully as possible
There is a sort of understanding behind
II all that those OF the syndicates that
do not send satisfactory answers may be
required TO make disclosures In open board
under subpoena served on their officials
The information that comes to the BoarC
IN response TO these schedules, ii is said
viii be treated. OF course, as wholly con-
fGential, and will be used by the Commis-
sioners only for such personal information
as they may need TO guide them TO saf.
conclusions. The schedule is not yet per
fected by the Commission. II is still undei
adVisement and awaiting further amend
ment. AS soon as it shall have been com
pleted finally it will probably be giveI
&c the press for such use as the newspa-
pers see fit to make of il.
The other source of information will b'
the testimony which the Commission Il
preparing 10 take. The first of the wit
nesses will be called tomorrow. The wit
nesses have been selected by the Commis
sion and invitations extended to them Il
respond on dates OF their own selection
The list for this month is completed row
The Commission will continue its hear
,ngs in June however. The dates for tina
month are yet to be arranged.
The first OF the witnesses will be Stat
Senator Lee. OF Pittsburg. Senator Lee
has acted in a legal capacity witt
the independent petroleum companie
that have been fighting the Standard OF
Company and his testimony is expected Il
be Of exceptional interest from the poin
OF view CT these who are opposed to com
binations. The Commission has decided Il
defer the coming OF John D. Rockefeller
the head of the Standard Oil Company
and William T. Wardwell. its Treasurer
who We're To have been present in May
until the June meeting. This is done il
compliance with their own request.
On the day after tomorrow the Commits
fion may be forced to hold night session
owing TO the fact that two witnesses hav
been scheduled for that day. One of thes
is Henry o. Havemeyer, the head of tn
Sugar Trust. and the other is James II
Post, New York factor who has no con
necticn with the Sugar syndicate, and will
doubtless state his business experience Il
rivalry with II for a market
Two witnesses have also been reuueste
10 appear on Saturday. One OF these
John Arbuckle, the coffee merchant, VIII
went into the sugar business as a sort q
reprisal upon the Sugar Trust when
became his competitor in the coffee bust
ness. The other is c. c. Clarke, of Peoris
a distiller whose business is said to hay
been in1uriously affected by the Whisk
Trust.
On the morning of the 18th inst Gei
John AcNulta OF Chicago, is TO tell whf
he knows about the Whisky Trust. II