Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-28
SERIES OF INQUIRIES
Investigations by the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor.
TO PROCEED IN TURN
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY NEXT TO
BE STUDIED.
Officers of the Standard Oil Company,
It is Said, Have Invited the
Closest Inspection.

Directly in line with the policy of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor. investt-
cations into the methods of conducting the
business of every prominent commercial
combination in this country are to be in
stituted and as soon as the reports along
one special line are finished another will
be begun.
It is this fact which has caused reports
that the Standard Oil Company Is to be
investigated by the bureau of corporations
Commissioner Garfield having charge Of that
branch Of the Department Of Commerce
The investigation of the beef trust having
been completed, and the report made ready
for review by the President agents Of the
bureau of corporations have been started
out on tours of investigation of the petro-
leum industry. The fact that the greater
part of this vast industry is controlled by
start the report that 1t is that corporation
which is to become the target for the
shafts of the investigating experts Of the
department.
Trusts and the Railroads.
In contradiction of this it Is asserted that
the Standard will come under the eye of
the agents of the department only in SO
far as Its buying and selling of petroleum
Is concerned, its relations to the railroads
In moving of the product not being con-
!sidered at this time Business combinations
in restraint of trade are forbidden by the
sherman ANTITRUST act, but when these
combinations exist between or among rail-
roads the matter Is given into the hands of
the interstate commerce commission, a body
entirely distinct from the Department Of
Commerce and Labor. Railroad rates re-
bates and other points by which the rail-
roads may seek to favor certain interests
to the disadvantage Of others are quite
distinct from the operations Of the Stand
ard OIL or any other company controlling
great trade interests and must be dealt with
In accordance with the act creating and
empowering the interstate commerce COM
mission.
Under the law creating the Department Of
Commerce and Labor that branch of the
government service must from time to time
investigate the business combinations Of the
country. For this purpose the bureau of
corporations was formed with Commits
sfoner Garfield at the head and it has since
been active in following out plans made in
accordance with that regulate The work
is necessarily slow and has been found to
be proportionately extensive The investiga-
ton OF the beef trust covered a great part
of the United States and required months
to complete 1t Is likely that the petroleum
interests will be even greater in extent and
that much longer time will be taken to
get into shape the reports on the general
result. California. being the largest pro-
Queer of petroleum at this time, will be
given close attention, and every detail of
the business of the combinations operating
In this product will be carefully studied.
Attitude Of Standard Oil.
1t is said that the officers Of the Standard
Oil Company, having assured the bureau of
corporations that 1t is conducting its BUSH
ness in strict accordance with the provi-
sions of the Sherman law,shas invited the
closest investigation of its methods and
will facilitate the work Of the agents of the
bureau by giving them every advantage of
access to books and explanations Of experts
In the business, in order that they may make
their report complete and accurate Penn
sylvania, West Virginia and Indiana will
also be carefully studied, those states being
report to the President will include every
detail Of the business as conducted by the
combined opera tors in the product. These
reports submitted to the President, and
In his discretion sent to Congress with any
recommendations he may deem advisable,
or made public If such action seems neces-
sary. 1t has been declared that the BUSH
ness of the Department Of Commerce and
Labor is to study the operations of all COM
bnations which may be reported to restrain
trade. and to make such recommendation
this respect. Whether this is being done
will be learned when the report of the in
quiry into the operations of the beef trust
is made public submitted to Congress by
the President. This is a matter which may
be looked for at any time, the details of the
report having been practically completed
and Congress being due to assemble De-
cember 5.