The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-02-24
THE OIL TRUST INQUIRY

Omaha Bee: The order for the
Standard Oil Investigation appears
to have aroused a degree of public
interest not less marked than that
which was melted by the inquiry
into the operations of the beef trust.
1t is stated that kilograms anc let
tiers have been pouring into the De-
partmeut of Commerce and Labor,
to members of the cabinet and to
representatives in congress. urging
the most rigid inquiry and imme-
date action. These expressions of
popular interest in the matter will
OF Secretary Metcalf and tommls-
sioner Garfield to make the inveSti-
cation as thorough as possible.
While the Kansas field will receive
first attention the inquiry will not
be limited to that. IL is announced
that after the agents have finished
there they will 90 to Pennsylvania,
West Virginia and other fields. in
Guiding Texas. 1t is stated that the
department officials hope to develop
important facts in the Pennsylvania
field, where iJ is probable they will
be able to find men who have been
h%arboring old grievances against the
oil trust and who will tell all they
know.
The plan appears to be that the in
vestigation shall cover all the rami-
fications comprised within the title
of the trust, such as producing com
panies, refineries, pipe lines, private
car lines and the manufacture of
products. It is stated that the de.
.,artn,cnJ will have practically un-
limited funds with which to work
n it is probable expert oil men will
be employed to assist it-men who
are familiar with all the technical
intricaties Of producing anu refining
oil and skilled in the tricks of the
trade. According to one statement
from washington President Roose-
welt will personally superintend the
investigation by holding frequent
conferences with Secretary Metcalf
and Commissioner Garfield. How
eve this may be there can be no
doubt that the president is very
much in earnest in the matter and
is determined that no effort shall be
spared to ascertain and lay before
the country all the facts In regard to
the methods and operations OF the
Standard Oil company that can be
obtained.
The Cleveland Leader notes that in
the nine years from 1896 till 1904, in
elusive, the Standard Oil company
has disbursed IN dividends S34s, OOO.-
OOO-a much greater amount than the
Spanish merican war cost the
United States, a SUN exceeding the
total assessed valuation Of many
cities OF 100000 inhabitants in the
United States and Europe, an aggre-
gate that, were 1T withdrawn sudden
ly from circulation, would precipitate
a panic, not only in Wall street but
On the stock exchange of all the
great foreign capitals sit would
appear remarks that paper, "that
the cause between the people of the
United States and what has been
popularity regarded as the greatest
monopoly in the world is about to
come to trial. The time has come to
find out the truth, and ha wing found
out, either to acquit the company be-
fore the world or indict, try. punish
and restrain it," 1t is generally rec
Ognized that the Investigation may
not prove an easy task, since it is
expected that the trust will offer re-
sistance and obstruction at every
point, but the people will patiently
await the result, being confident of
the unyielding purpose Of the admin
istration to make the Investigation
thorough.
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