The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-04-14
BEEF OR OIL TRUST FIRST
Hearings Will Necessarily Be Private,
But May Be Made Public
by President Later.

to go out after trusts. Commissioner
Garfield is picking out bright young
lawyers from all over the country and
adding them to the staff of the bureau
of corporations. About half a dozen
have already been appointed.
A Still Hunt.
The bureau of corporations will not
begin it's work with the .blare of
trumpets. On the contrary, it will be
commenced with a still hunt. The
new department is primarily an in
strument in the hands of the presi-
dent for his enlightenment. In the
firss.instance, the reports are to be
CONFIDENTIAL, and it is possible that
they~may neve be made public.
When the bureau is fully equipped,
Secretary Cortelyou will have a talk
with the president, and will pick a
trust concern which appears to be
trespassing on the rights of the in
dividual, and notice will be served on
the corporation by to appear
before commissioners or deputy com
~missioners, and to give an account of
it's stewardship.
Here Is the Victim.
1t is a foregone conclusion that the
first inquiry will strike n Of three
trusts, namely, the beef trust, the
Standard Oil trust, or the hard coal
trust. @
The first named is likely to be the
lucky number. Judge Grosscup's re-
cent decision enjoining that concern,
and the steady efforts which have
been going on among the packers to
bring about a consolidation by pur-
chase and merger have combined
to make the beef trust a shining mark.
Probably one trust at a time will
be about all the corporation bureau
will care to tackle. The investigation
will, of necessity, cover & wide range.
1t will also a wide territory.
1t will go into the subjects of preda-
tory competition-the TRUSTS meth
DDS of going into a small. place and
u~nderselling the local butcher until
he is ruined, and then putting up the
prices. 1t will also go into the prac-
tice of acting in concert in buying
live cattle, and thus d%epriving the
cattle raisers of the benefits of com
petition. Naturally the subject of re-
bates and cut rates from railroads
will be taken up.
BY obtaining information on all
these subjects the commissioner of
corporations is armed under the law
to compel the attendance and testi-
mony of witnesses, the production of
books and papers, and to punish re-
fusal. The commissioners powers in
this regard are the same as those pos
sessed by the interstate commerce
commission; and these have been
found to be entirely adequate.
Hearings Will Be Private.
The young lawyers who have been
appointed as special attorneys of the
bureau will conduct the crossexam-
nations, and take charge of the vari-
GUS branches and ramifications of the
inquiry.
In view OF the fact that the findings
of the bureau of corporations are sup
posed to be confidential until made
public by the president, it follows
that the hearings will necessarily be
private. Otherwise an innocent OF
honest corporation might be subjected
to great injustice by having it's bust
ness methods exposed to it's rivals
without recourse.
The findings will be examined b,
the president, and, if he so determine!
they may be laid before the world
Or he may make them a basis TO
recommending further legislation il
restraint OF trusts.
The Hard Coal Boys.
1t is understood on good authorit,
that Attorney General knox is eA
aiming the evidence on which erin
inal actions may be. brought agains
the members OF the anthracite Goa
trust, under the Sherman anti-trus
law. These actions would subject tn
conspirators to fine and imprisol
ment, if convicted. President Roos'
welt has given orders that the law b
enforced-let it strike where it ma.
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTlC
No Action Now Being Taken Asains