The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-28
LAWSON TO HELP.
1t Is Reported That He Has
rendered His Assistance
To the President in Prosecution
of the Trusts.
WILL WORK TOGETHER
He Will Furnish Information
for Guidance of Officials.
Standard Oil Investigation Will
Begin This Week.
WILL WORK TOGETHER

Washington, Nov. 2S-The friends of
Trust Buster Lawson So y that there
Is working understanding between
him and the president to make a show
ing on trusts. This is the excitement
of the hour in administration circles
The story runs that some months
ago Lawson called on the president and
explained his position fighting the
trusts, giving information he had on
hand against certain trusts showing
operations illegal. Also Mr.. Lawson
explained that he would give the pub
lie information through the magazines
and educate the public to approve
drastic action against the eight big
trusts concentrated into the communi-
ty of interests arrangement
In line with this understandings. ac-
tion is started against the Standard Oil
company and resumed in the Beef trust.
steel trust is said to be next in line,
while the. Paper trust and others are
early on the list for Investigation.
1t is understood Lawson will direct
a hre along a certain line to promote
investigation by the bureau of corpora
conduct his shelling of the woods in a
way to most effectively serve the ad-
mlnlstration- In this way the trusts
are to be given all the trouble found
Formal orders have been issued at
the department of commerce and labor
Tor a government investigation of the
afta1rs and business methods of the
standard Oil company The order was
issued assigning two special agents OF
the department to begin work
Th1s action is taken after frequent
consultations held between President
RooseVelt and the corporation commits
sioner, Mr.. Garfield. These conferences
were the consummationS of a series of
complaints which have been filed with
the department of commerce and Labor
The charges to be investigated are
that the Standard Oil company is vfcs-
'lat1ng the interstate commerce laws in
the restraint of trade. It is intended
to make most searching and thorough
examination. The two agents will visit
the oil fields to begin with and win
then proceed to the company's refin-
cries and later will examine into the
ways of distribution and the alleged
control of oil transportation facilities
1t is expected that the reDOrt Of the
agents will not be ready until some
time next spring, or later but fully in
time for the president to incorporate in
his message to congress next winter
any recommendation in the premises
he may deem necessary.
The investigation is to be after the
fashion of that instituted against the
Beef trust, which has only recently
been concluded. Under the present
law, the president, if he deems the
facts warrant, may notify his attorney
general to proceed against any trust
engaged in violation of the law. This
course of procedure was instituted in
the case of the Northern Securities
company, the administration winning a
decisive victory. Should violations by
the Standard Oil be found, therefore, it
will not be really necessary for the
president to await upon congress. He
is empowered to proceed at once to in
Stitute court proceedings.