New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1906-05-09
Message Hts Mark.


That the broadside from the White
House hit its mark was slown by a
sweeping statement of denial given
out by the standard officials in New
York, in which the administration in
dictment is called unjust and untruth-
full, the business methods of the com
bine are defended and there are light
~ yelled sneers at the presidents ac-
tiyity in generously Offering advice on
a wide range of subjects from race
suicide to affairs Of state.
A happening that followed the sub
mission of the presidents message and
Commissioner Garfield's report so
quickly as to make it seem the work
of sudden inspiration through the dis
closures made was the unanimous
adoption by the senate of an amend
ment to the pending bill to regulate
railroad rates which makes oil pipe
lines common carriers and subject to
the provisions of the interstate COM
merce law.
It is aimed directly at the Standard
Oil company, and the day after it was
presented by Senator Lodge an agent
of that company called upon the Mas
sachusetts senator and used all his
persuasive powers to show that it's
adoption would be very bad thing.
Secret Rebates.
The Standard Oil company has ha-
bitually received from the railroads
and is now receiving secret rates and
other unjust and illegal discrimina-
lions. The company is receiving unjust
determinations in open rates. In one
year-19O4-it has been discovered
that the company saved about $780,
600, and there is no telling how much
more was saved in the same chan
nels which was not discovered.
John D. RockefelIers personal in
come, computing on the generally un-
derstood basis of his share of control
in the Standard Oil corporation, has
been enhanced at least 100000 a year
through the illegal com bination be-
tween his company and the railroads.
These are the essential facts shown
by Commissioner Garfeld's report on
transportation and freight rates with
respect to petroleum.
Commission Powerless.
Failure to give to the interstate
commerce commission affirmative
power through which it might regu-
late railroad rates and prevent dis
ordinations is assigned by the presi-
dent as the reason why the injustice
in the operations of the Standard Oil
company has been allowed to continue
and the f1agrancy of this injustice fur.
nishes one of the strongest arguments
yet developed for the speedy enact
ment Of the rate legislation now pend
ing in congress.
The president believes, however
that legislation along other lines also
is needed in the face of the exposures
made, and he thinks much might be
accomplished by the passage of the
bill to relieve alcohol used in the arts
from the payment of revenue tax.
The president urges also that OF
and coal lands still held by the gov
eminent or owned by the IndiaI
! tribes shall not be alienated
Report Is Incomplete.
| Startling as the report of Commits
sioner Garfield is in relation to multi
tudinous facts, it presents only a small
part of the discoveries made in con
nection with the investigation o
Standard and the biggest sensation!
are likely to follow later reports deal
ing with law breaking and evil prac
tees in other fields.
It is known that much wrongdoin,
has been unearthed outside of illega
combinations between the Standard OF
company and leading railroad con-
panies, but the subject is so big tina
it has been found necessary to let TIL
results of the investigation filter gu
a little at time.
Desperate Is Shot Down.
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