Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-06
HAS BEGUN INQUIRY
INVESTIGATION OF THE STAND
ARD OIL COMPANY.
Commissioner Garfield Will Thorough
ly Probe the Charges in Accordance
With Mr.. Campbell's Resolution.

The investigation of the methods of the
Standard Oil business in Kansas, called for
by a resolution of Representative Campbell
of Kansas has been begun by Commits
soner Garfield of the bureau of corpora
tons and will be carried to complete and
rapid finish under the eye of the commits
sioner and his most trusted agents The
investigation will be as thorough as it can
be made and no loophole will be left for
the escape of anything that has bearing
on the charges that the Standard OIL Com
pany has not acted in accordance with the
strict letter of the law in operating its BUSH
ness in the state of Kansas.
The report of Commissioner Garfield will
be made directly to President Roosevelt.
Whether 1t will be made public will lie
within the discretion of the chief executive
Commissioner Garfield says that nothing
will be left undone by his bureau to develop
the facts regarding the operations of the
oil trust in Kansas, as well as in other
states.
Not Confined to Kansas.
1t is not the purpose of Commissioner
Garfield to confine the inquiry to Kansas.
1t will not be circumscribed by state or
geographical lines. 1t is the intention of
the commissioner to make the investga-
ton exhaustive as the resolution of Rep
purpose being to develop all the facts re-
garding the operations of the oil trust.
During the past year says Commits
sioner Garfield, "a great amount of general
information rela ting to the oil trust has
been obtained. This affords a basis from
which to undertake Immediately specific in
quires into the conditions existing in spe
cific fields, such as Kansas, Texas and Cali
fornia.
THE method of procedure will be similar
to that followed in the inquiry into the
operations of the alleged beef trust. The
commissioner of corporations personally
and through special agents will obtain in
formation from original sources. Already
these sources of information have been
sounded. They have responded to the COM
missioner of corporations by agreeing to
furnish information to afford the fullest
opportunity for inspection and eXamna ton
of records and accounts, and to answer all
question pertinent to the matters involved
in the inquiry"
field, under direction of President Roose-
welt, to make the inquiry into the opera
tons of the oil trust as comprehensive and
exhaustive as possible. Nothing will be
left undone that will develop single fact
relating to the work of the trust and If it
has been unjust in discrimination against
the producers of oil in Kansas or in any
other state the inquiry will show it. 1t is
pointed out that the oil trust, through its
pipe lines, is not a common carrier. under
the law, and it cannot be compelled to
carry oil from any given field unless the
producers accede to it's terms.
Attitude Of the Oil Trust.
The oil trust maintains that it has con-
Quoted its business not only in accordance
with the law, but in perfect regard to
recognized business principles, and that
therefore, 1t is perfectly willing to have the
government make as rigid inquiry as it
may desire into it's methods of doing
business.
1t is the purpose of Commissioner Garfield
to make the investigation as thorough as
possible. He, personally, will go to Kan
sas, and perhaps to other oil fields. In the
conduct of the inquiry, which, as heretofore
indicated, is not to be confined to specific
field. Every ramification of the inquiry
will be followed whether 1t lead across
state lines or not. 1t may lead from Kan
sas to Texas, from Texas to California, and
from California to Pennsylvania; but
wherever 1t may lead. it will be followed in
an earnest endeavor to ascertain all the
facts regarding the operations of the all
legged oil trust. AS soon as the investi-
cation is completed, and it will be COM
pleted in accordance with the instructions
of the President at as early a date as posi-
BILE, the findings will be transmitted to
President Roosevelt. If, in his judgment
the facts warrant an inquiry by the De-
partment of Justice, the facts will be turn
ed over to Attorney General Moody with
Instructions to proceed according to law.