New-York tribune., 1905-02-17
WILL PROBE OIL TRUST.
Garfield Acts at Once on the House
Resolution.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU ]

Washington, Feb 16.-The Bureau of Corporations
mas begun an investigation into the methods of the
SIanoard OH Company in Kansas. This announce
ment was made to-day by James R. Garfield Com
missioner OF Corporations. after he had had a talk
WIN President Roosevelt at the White House. How
long the investigation will continue. what will be
lts scope, or how it win be prosecuted, Mr.. Gar
helu said he was not at liberty TO state.
may say that no time will be lost said Mr..
IaIhelo. AS soon as the House passed their
luton yesterday the Bureau of Corporations en-
foot measures to obey the order. did not wait fo-
instructions from any other source 1t is not true
that President Roosevelt has ordered the investi-
CATION The report to that effect in this afternoon
papers is erroneous
will your Investigations go outside Of the Kan
oil feld?"
That cannot say. 1t all depends on the result
OF the Investigations make in that State"
can you make guess as 10 the duration Of
Tune the nvestig alton will require?"
mo. cannot We will do the work as quickly
as we can." said Mr.. Garfield
Ihe resolution passed by the House of Repre-
sentatives calling the Secretary of Commerce
ana Labor TO investigate the Standard Oil Com
panys business in Kansas was received by secre-
tary MetcaIf before noon. but no copy was trans
mitted TO the White House. The President did re-
ceVe. however. the resolutions on the same SUBJ
1ect passed by the Kansas Legislature AS soon as
ne got the document he transmitted it to Commits
sloner Garfield, without comment or order of any
kind.
Representative Campbell. of Kansas. the author
yesterday,
was caller at the Presidents office this morning
After his talk with the Chief Magistrate he said
that the President had ordered Commissioner Gar
field to make the investigation the request of the
House.
The Commissioner of Corporations will have no
difficulty in securing plenty OF evidence against
the Standard Oil Company in Kansas" said Mr.
Campbell, "for great many of business men
are suffering from their illegal methods. Last
Saturday the Standard angered at the action of the
legislature in voting for State refneriesa stopped
buying oil from the Kansas wells The Standard
owns all the pipe lines, and, they quit
buying, the only available market for the product
will be. Of course. shut off. The price of de-
lower than that had there been any quotation But
there was no more buying. so the price is prac-
tically zero All the tanks full, and the wells
now pouring their oil out the prairies"
While the unanimous resolution passed by the
House for investigation of the Standard Oil
Company and Commissioner Garfelds decision to
begin inquiry at once, created much interest in
the financial district yesterday. statement
obtainable a the office of the company. The Of
fcers said that in the circumstances they could
not, with propriety. discuss the subject.
in close touch with the trust, however,
said that it had idea of abandoning the Kansas
oil fields, but had stopped It's of on
account Of the antagoniSic attitude of the Kansas
Legislature and because of the OverprOduction.