The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-08
Unless Some Kind of Bill is Passed Roosevelt Will Gall
 an ESta Session
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
 AT WORK IN THE lOBB|ES
Receipt of Letters From Rockefeller By Senators Has Caused Sensation In Washington Political
 Circles.


 Washington. February Tt can be stated by authority that unless anti trust legislation at least reasonably satis- factory to the administration is enacted at the present session, President Roose- welt on the 5th of March will call an ex- traordinary session of the fifty-eghth congress.
 The President has told members of con- gress of his desires and of his determine tion in this regard. It is understood that the announcement was direct and un- qualified.
 It is further stated That the determina- ton of the President was reached only after careful consideration Of the strenu- GUS efforts that are being made to defeat any antitrust legislation by congress These efforts have covered a wide range They were characterized today by one prominent republican leader, to quote him directly "as the most remarKabIe of which l have had personal knowledge during my pubic life"
 These efforts eliminated during the past thirty-six hours, 1t is now declared py direct appeals from the Standard on company. through its president, John D. Rockefeller. to members of the senate not to enact any antitrust legislation at this time
 Rockefeller Very Active.
 No less than six United States senators have received telegrams signed John D Rockefeller urging that no anti-trust legislation be enacted. It has not been possible to obtain a copy or these dis patches, which, 1t can be sald are prac- ticaly identical Substantially they read as follows:
 We are opposed to any antitrust leg islation Our counsel Ir. -, will see you. It must be stopped"
 As stated, these telegrams fand it must De clear that only the substance and not the exact wording is hero given) were signed John D. Rockefeller 2 :, T Yesterday morning one of the counsel Tor the Standard Oil company arrived In Washington and called immediately on members of the senate as indicated in the telegram. lie did not remain long, Scarcely had he made known his busi- ness than he was informed hit curtly, that his presence here W sirable and he left with an intin | he had better return to New York
 During the afternoon information con- corning the receipts of the message leak ed out and became the subject of some quiet cloak room discussion in the sen- ate. The news also reached the house.
 
 fearing the gist of the dispatches.
 Not the First Time.
 Then 1t became known that this was not the first time the Standard oil com pany through it's attorneys, had endeav- ored to influence legislation in congress at this session. The attorneys for he com- pany. it was stated, had opposed vigor- ously the enactment of the measure sub mitted by Attorney General Knox to the Cfa r1dt r committee. Subsequently when what Is known as the Littlefield bill was report ed to the house, it can be said on the best of authority that the Standard oil company's counsel began to devote their opf,osition particularly to the Nelson amendment to section of the department of commerce bill-the amendment which contains practically the publicity fea- lures of the Knox antitrust bill
 They did not want that incorporated in the measure and 1t is said used their ut most efforts to prevent its favorable con sideration. They were unsuccessful as the bill with that amendment was agreed upon unanimously today by the conferees of the two branches of congress. The ac- ton of the conferees was received, 1t is understood, with satisfaction by the officials of the administration, as ie is regarded as long and essential step toward the kind of antitrust Legislation that both the President and Attorney Fl General Knox believe will be effective It is this legislation particularly that the Standard oil company so vigorously ob- jects to, and which 1t hoped might be headed off or emasculated through the appeals made to senators before it reached the stage of actual passage.
 Want EIkins Bill Passed.
 It is said by authority that the admin. istration hopes that the Elkins rebate bill which was passed by the senate this week, will be passed also by the house While this measure, too, is opposed by those ho are in favor of no trust legisla- tion. the special opposition to 1t does not come from the Standard oil company, be- cause, 1t Is explained. that corporation has grown beyond any effects the en. forcement of such legislation might have upon it. The President, it is understood regards the Elkins bill essential to a rounding out of the administrations plan for antitrust legislation and it is believ- ed by those in close touch with him and with the conditions in congress that fl may be enacted into law.
 Tonight the efforts being made to de- feat or emasculate pending antitrust leg isation formed the basis of some animat. ed conferences. Indeed the subject is likely to be developed in some detail in congress One of the recipients of tele- grams, signed by John D. Rockefeller ' said: ..No such formidable weapon has ever put in the hands of one man by another in legislative contest as was put in my hands by the sender of that telegram. If necessary l will rise In my place in the senate and read it. Then we will see whether any votes are to be recorded against the legislation at which these efforts are being directed.".
 Could Not See Rockefeller.
 New York, February S-An attempt was made tonight to see John D. Rocke- feller and other officers and directors of the Standard Oil company, but they could not be reached John D. Archbold, through . messenger. when told of the dispatch, said he had not seen Rockefeller and knew nothing of such report.