The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-13
ROCKEFELLER'S
OBJECTIONS
One Clause of the Nelson Amend
ment Which He Considers
Vicious.
But He Believes It Has Already
Been Declared to Be Uncon-
stitutional.
New York Sur speeial Service.

Chicago, Feb 1S-Wiliam T.. Curtis in
a Washington special to the Record Her
aid SAYS: Now that the dust has blown
away and the tempest in the teapot has
subsidized it appears that Mr.. Rockefeller
and the Standard Oil company did not OBJ
ject and have never objected to the public
ity section of the department of commerce
act, but only to a single sentence iii one
section. Mr.. Rockefeller not only con-
sents but desires to have the Standard Oil
company placed under federal supervision
and would be very glad to recognize and
consolidate the several branches of that
great corporation into single company If
he could obtain act of incorporation
from congress-. Nor has he or any one
representing him expressed a different
view wish to any member of either
house of congress. 80
1t is true that his son, John D. Rookie
Teller, Jr., II. H. Rogers, John d. Archi-
bald and Mr.. Dodd the general counsel,
did send kilograms last Friday to num-
Der of senators and representatives with
whom they have personal acquaintance,
stating that the Standard Oil company OBJ
ijected to certain provisions in the Mel
son amendment and would send its at
torney to Washington to explain the rea-
sons. ...tts. T.
Nearly all of the senators and represent
iatives receiving the kilograms have seen
fit to deny that they received them, for
fear somebody might think they had init
mate relations with the great octopus, but
Mr.. Rockefeller, Jr, and Mr.. Rogers do
not hesitate to say that they sent signed
kilograms and are at loss to understand
why the newspapers have made so much
fuss about it. They claim that the Stand
ard Oil company has just as good a right
to protect itself from unfavorable legis
lation as the sugar beet factories or any
other manufacturers or industrial inter-
ests in the United States and declare that
those who have been attempting to make
9. great political sensation out of this
episode are demagcgues deserving only of
contempt.
One of the most intimate friends of Mr..
Rockefeller tells me that Mr.. Rockefeller
had never objected to the general pub
licity provision. but on the contrary APP
proved of it. He did object, however, to
the clause in the Nelson amendment which
authorities the commissioner of corpora
tons to search the records, correspond
ence and accounts Of private corporations
which are not indicted for crime. -:
Mr.. Rockefeller believes that, such au-
thOrity should not be inhuSted to any
official of the government without an or
der from court. This authority is likely
to be abused and taken advantage of by
any corrupt or dishonest agent Of the new
bureau of corporations. who under this
provision, will be able to ascertain the
most valuable business and manufacturing
secrets of commercial and industrial COR
poratons and make any use of them he
desires. -~s-rg - 4
Mr.. Rockefeller believes that this clause
is unconstitutional and that it comes UNI
der the decision of the supreme court
some years ago, which denied the right Of
congress to search the books and records
of a firm concerning atters which in no
way pertained to the government Il ES.,
The attorneys Of the Standard Oil COM
pany are Of the opinion that if it is ever
tested in court it will vitiate the entire
publicity law. 5s,g-tE zs5S5
Nor is Mr.. Rockefeller opposed to the
I1lkins a1lti-rebatez Bill. which has passed
the senate and now pending in the house.
He will go SO far as to encourage its
passage. &E#