The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-03-06
GARFlELDS MISSION
Ordered by President to Probe
Kansas Oil Problem.
MAY EXTEND TO Pennsylvania"
win he Completed at an Early Date,
and II Facts Warrant Proceedings
Against All Illegal Combina-
tIOna VIII FOLLOW.

WASHINGTON, March 6.-Commis-
sloner James IL. Garfield Of the bureau
OF corporations has instituted rigid
investigation of the operations Of the
oil industry In Kansas and contiguous
stntes. In response to Il resolution OF
the house Of representatives introduced
by Representative Campbell Of Kansas
the investigation of the oil industry
Will be carried on as rapidly as is con.
sistent with thoroughness. The report
Of Commissioner Garfield will be made
directly to President Roosevelt.
During the past year." said Com
missioner Garfield, "a great amount of
general information relating TO the oil
trust has been obtained. This affords
basis from which TO undertake i'm
mediate specific inquiries into the con-
ditions existing in specific fields, such
az Kansas Texas and California. 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, per
sonally and through special agents. will
obtain information from original
sources. Already these sources OF in
formation have been sounded. They
have responded to the commissioner OF
corporations by agreeing to furnish In.
formation, to afford the fullest oppor-
tuniry for inspection and examination
of records and accounts and,to answer
all questions pertinent to the matters
involved in the inquiry"
1t Is the intention OF Commissioner
Garfield, under direction of President
Roosevelt, to make the inquiry into the
operations of the oil trust as compre
hensive and exhaustive az possible
Nothing will be left undone that will
develop a single fact relating to the
work of the trust. and II it has been
unjust in discrimination against the
producers of oil in Kansas or in any
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 IL cannot be COM
PEELED to carry oil from any given
field unless the producers accede to its
terms. The oil trust maintains that 1t
has conducted its business not only in
accordance with the law, but in perfect
regard to recognized business princi-
pies, and that therefore 1t is perfectly
willing to have the government make
as rigid an inquiry as il NAV desire
into its methods of doing business.
Every ramification of the inquiry
will be followed, whether 1t lead across
state lines or not. 1t may lead from
Kansas to Texas. from Texas to Cali
fornia and from California to Pennsyl-
vania. But wherever il may lead Il
will be followed In an earnest endeavor
TO ascertain all the facts regarding the
operations of the alleged oil trust.
AS soon as the investigation is com
pleted, and il will be completed in ac-
cordance with the wishes of the pres.
dent ut as early date as possible, the
findings will be transmitted to Pres-
dent Roosevelt III in his judgment
the facts warrant an inquiry by the
department of justice, the facts will be
turned over to Attorney General Moo
dy. with Instructions to proceed accord
ing TO law.