Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-03

Washington, May 3. II was an
nounced yesterday on behalf of the
administration that President R0ose-
welt will send 30 Congress on Friday,
with an accompanying message. a
strong report boy James A. Garfield,
Commiss slOner of Corporations, on the
Standard Oil Co. and its operations.
This news soon reached Wall Street,
and apparently caused considerable ex-
citement, as Senators and Repr, senta-
tives were deluged with Inquiries as
to the character of the report and the
attitude Of the President.
Those who inquired obtained little
positive information, for neither the
President nor Mr.. Garfield would dis
cuss the matter, the comm issioner CON
tenting himself with the announce
ment that my report is in the hands
of the President and ! am satisfied
with IT, "
If those who proclaim themselves as
familiar with the character Of the
report and the recommendations con-
tained therein do not err, Mr.. Garfield
has discovered that, despite the asser-
tlons of Mr.. Rogers and his associates
that they have been obeying the letter
and spirit Of the Elkins law, rebates
amounting to millions Of dollars have
been paid, directly and indirectly,
from the treasures Of most OF the inn
portant railroads into the Golfers of the
STANDARD Oil.
One story is told that Mr.. Garfield
was not making much headway in run
ming down the Standard as a tnker of
rebates until one day one Of his agents
entered the Office of a great railroad
corporation and asked for informa-
tion. An official of the companv.
presumably the chief auditor, opened
the books to him, pointed out long
rows of figures, and told him these
represented rebates on oil and other
products of the Standard Oil Co. The
official also told him what the figures
meant and how he would be able to
locate similar practices In other rail-
road offices.
This, it is said, was the lead which
resulted IN opening up hitherto un-
worked field OF corporate wrongdoinq.
lt Will be remembered that Messrs.
II. II. Rogers and John ID. Archbold
called on the President at the White
House in March and had an extended
conference. AfterWard 10 wns stated
on excellent authority that these
gentlemen had pointed out that thev
represented a great industry and a
great organization, which had been
built up without government aid by a
group Of men who were now growing
old; that these men had created and
held a tremendous export trade in the
face Of powerful opposition; that the
company had thrown open its books
TO Mr., Garfield, and that il he made "A
fair report it would show that the
standard was simply a model business
concern, whose system and methods
competitors We're anxious TO discover
andtimitate. Intact, il was asserted
that Messrs. Rogers and Arohbold
challenged the President to make
public the Garfield report. IL is said
that the Presiden was assured that
both John ID. and William Rockefeller
were IN poor health, had practically
Withdrawn from business, and that
what was styled the persecution OF
these men should cease.
If Messrs. Rogers and Archhold
! challenged the President to make pub
/ lie the Garfield report he evidently
was not then ready % do so. The
| inference is that since the March con
ference new evidence has been oh
/ tained from other sources than the
Standards books.
lt was intimated that the govern
ment expects to bring considerable
number of prosecutions because of
rebates. Under the Elkins law the
! giver OF rebate is equally guilty with
tho taker. Fines of $40, 600 and SO, OOC
/ were recently imposed upon a Western
railroad and its officials.
Attorney General Moody and Mr..
Garfield had a long interview with
the President yesterday and IL was
/ SAID the Department of Justice Is con
siderlng moving against the STANDARD
/ Oil Co. IN New Jersey. This might
/ mean that he was about to try TO
! enloin the company, which is "A New
/ Jersey corporation.
Until suits are brought or grand
/ iuries called IL cannot be said the
/ government has moved. and there are
many persons here who suspect much
of the advance announcement of the
/ stern character of Mr. Gariield's re-.
/ port is due TO an effort 10 influence
the Senate. The President has held
/ ever since Congress met that If it had
not been for Senator Aldrich thers
/ would have been no opposition Ia
the Hepburn Railroad Rate bill.
| There was no sign in the Senate yes
terdny of amy change in the attitude
| of Senator Aldrich or the other mem
pers of the Republican side who have
been contending for "A broad review.
10 was suggested that il might be 4
/ mere coincidence that the President
| had selected Friday for the day when
be viii send I'M his message with the
Garfield report. Friday, IN addition
20 being regarded rs an nnluoky day,
Is the day when the Senate begins H
| take up amendments 10 the Hepburn
DILL 10 SO happens that the first
amendment TO come up will hoe thai
| offered by Senator lodge of Massa-
ohusetts, which makes pipe line.
common carriers and brings Them
under the regulations of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Mr.. Garhald's
report may furnish stronger ar0u.
ment for the adoption of the Lodg,
amendment than senator Lodge cau
| furnish in n ~. ffafurffa sr,.n.I