The evening times., 1899-06-26

The Industrial Commissions work OF
taking testimony in this city has been
completed until September and most of
the Commissioners have left for their
homes. where they will take brief inter-
val of rest before joining their respective
subcommissions, each of which. with one
or two exceptions, is detailed to carry on
an investigation in some part Of the coun-
try during the next two months. The OIL
ces of the Commission in the Bliss build
ing will be kept open during the absence
of the Commission, and it is expected that
the staff Of the secretary will be kept busy
attending to correspondence and other
routine work.
During the past two months about 40, 900
syllabi relating to various phases Of in
vestigations taken up by the Commission
have been sent to responsible persons in
all Parts Of the country, who are reputed
to be acquainted with particular features
of general industrial conditions, and an
swers are beginning to come In. 1t is ex-
pected that correspondence OF this class
will be received in large volume through
out the summer. The testimony taken by
the several subcommissions will have to be
rargements completed for securing wit
nesses for next fall.
The trust investigation will, II present
plans are carried out, be continued
through the months of September, October,
and possibly through November. During
that time such men as John d. Rockefel-
Ter and John Arbuckle will in all proba
bility appear and give testimony. II is
now the intention of the Commission to
rom nlpfo tho frl,af ipyasfiyat in time IN
present report to Congress some time
next session.
Whether the report will be submitted
in December, or later In the session is not
yet known. more probably not until the
first Of next year, as the immense amount
of testimony already taken and that which
remains to be heard will all have to be
carefully digested. The testimony thus far
received has for the most part been direct
ed against trusts. and but few witnesses
have been examined who were at all IA
vorable to their existence and methods of
doing business.
The majority of witnesses against the
Standard Oil Company have been men who
at some time during their business career
have crossed the path of the corporation,
much to their disadvantage. Under such
circumstances their testimony would nltur-
ally be somewhat prejudiced.
The Commission in making its report
will have all such things TO consider in
making recommendations to Congress. and
a number OF Commissioners who have been
asked for their opinions as to what the
probable report will be stated that even
if the report were TO be based upon the
testimony at hand il would be difficult to
dete1mine what form il would take, wheth-
er for or against trusts.
The story of John d. Rockefeller remains
to be heard, and it is said that he is care
fully preparing an answer to the charges
which have been brought against his cor
poration. During the trust investigation
the .Oil City Derrick newspaper said
to be controlled by the Standard Oil Com
pany, has had stenographer TO take the
testimony of each trust witness. But lit
tie of the testimony has been printed by
the paper, yet the stenographer has made
full reports. 1t is thought that the testi-
mony eventually reaches Mr. Rockefeller,
and has been used by him in preparing a
statement in defence of the Standard Oil
Company.
When the investigation of farming con-
ditions was taken up by the Commission,
the ''Oil City Derrick's" stenographer ceas-
ed his attendance upon the sessions Of the
Commission. Mr.. Rockefeller's careful
will no doubt result in a
strong defence of trusts and consequently
may nave me
Commission when il comes TO make rec
to Congress.
The Commission before adjournment had
under consideration the advisabiiity of en-
ploying some economist of high standing
to aiS in preparing its final report. The
expert will. If the suggestion is carried
out be expected to read the testimony and
with the aid of his large knowledge of
economics to draw correct conclusions.
Prof z. B. Durand, Of the University OF
California at San Francisco, has been con- |
sidered as being capable to fill the position. |
The subcommission on transportation |
will pursue no Investigations this summer. |
The subject coming under its special OBJ |
servaton is one of the most important |
which the Commission will have to inves |
tigate. Nearly every witness has had |
to say of the differential rates |
charged by nearly all the railroads, and in |
the answers to the questions in the syl- !
abi sent out great deal of complaint has /
been directed against railroads. Prof. |
Johnson, of the University of Pennsylva-
MIA, who has charge of collecting material |
relative to transportation for the enlight-
enment of the Commission, has several |
experts at work, but an outline of the in
restigation has not yet been prepared.
Subcommissions on mining and agricul-
lure, as stated previously in The Times, |
will pursue investigations in the West.
The subcommission on manufactures will |
90 to the New England States, gathering
he testimony of the laborer and operator, !!
md will devote special attention to the
extile factories. Commissioner John NJ.
Tarquhar has been appointed a subcom-
mission of one to make a personal inspec-
ion of immigration conditions in New
FORK. His investigations will be mostly
conducted by visiting and talking with the
Government officials in charge of immi-
grafton at New York, and by personal
Inspection of the immigrants them
selves. 1t is possible that Mr.. Farquhar
will hear some testimony.
1t is likely that the so-called combina-
ion of grape growers and raisin manufac-
urers of the Pacific Slope will be looked
INTO by special agent to be named by
he Commission. The secretary of the
Commission has received a number of let
ers from California. in which complaint
las been made against the methods en-
,loyed by the trust. The subcommissions
lave not yet made definite arrangements
or their trips, but will probably have COM
,leted all necessary preparations in two
weeks.
Peanut Market Advances.