New-York tribune., 1906-06-23
10 ATTACK OIL TRUST.
GOVERNMENT WILL act
Mr. Moody Announces Plan to
Prosecute the STANDARD.
- % Trthune Rureau. ]

IFsom The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington. June 22.-Acting under instruc-
.,ons from President Roosevelt and after an nm
rsnally long Cabinet discussion of the matter
attorney General Moody this afternoon an
,ounced that the Department Of Justice would
q. once begin criminal prosecution against the
Standard OH Company.
The Attorney GeneraF also announced the an
,ortnlent Of Frank NJ. Kellogg. of ST Paul. and
charles =. Morrison, Of Chicago. as snecial
counsel for the government - handle the prose
stians. Mr.. Kellogg was one Of the counsel for
The government in the recent litigation against
the Paper Trust. and won the admiration Of
hoth the President and the Attorney General bv
his management Of the case Mr.. Morrison is AT
rresent United States District Attorney at Chi
cago, and viii resign his place in order to have
free hand FOR his energies in this important
work
The Presidents intention to proceed against
tie Standard OH Company has been a matter OF
common knowledge for some time. Agents Of
The Bureau Of Corporations and the Department
Of Justice have been working in various parts Of
TIE country for many months. and have they
say obtained mass Of evidence against the oil
company and the railroads in the matter Of
granting the Standard illegal rebates and un-
fair concessions.
~N<>-@~@NC~A%D7
The government Will take UP the cases Of the
railroads at the proper time
Rumors that the administration was about 10
fire another shot in the direction Of Wall Street
have been floating about the Capitol for the last
two days The fact that the President had a
conference with five OF his Cabinet ministers late
Wednesday night was regarded as significant
though none Of those present would talk on the
subject.
Attorney General Moody did not indicate to-
Gay where he intends 10 fire the first gun in his
battle against the Standard The majority of
those who are interested in the matter predict
than Ohio VIII be the first battling ground The
Attorney General has had conferences over oil
with The Attorney General Of Ohio recently and
therefore the inference is that he will begin the
fight against the Standard in that part of the
country
MR.. AfOODY'S STATEMENT
The following is the statement issued by the
Attorney General:
After full consideration OF all the informa-
ton now available, including the report of the
Commissioner Of Corporations and the evidence
ahen by the Interstate Commerce Comms-
inal proceedings against the Standard OH Com
panN should be begun in certain cases where
There appears 10 have been a violation OF the
laws regulating interstate commerce and pro-
hhlLrg rebates and other unlawful discrimina-
mons. Accordingly, such proceedings VIII be
peGHn at once IN The appropriate judicial dis
llcIs. These cases regarded and VIII be
treated as Of Importance. a II seems clear that
IL so far as the Standard OIL Company has OBJ
1ained monopolistic control OF interstate trade
that control has been IN large degree made DOS
slble by determinations in Transportation rates
or facilities, the Determinations being in some
cases In violation Of law and in other cases.
though injurious to the public welfare not in
violation OF law, and therefore subject only to
Such correction as may be afforded by the rail-
way rate legislation now pending IN Congress.
l shall continue the investigation OF the affairs
of the STANDARD oil Company and OF such COM
plants as have been or may be brought to the
attention OF this department with the view of
ascertaining whether or not there has been
any violation of the Antitrust act OF
other federal law. This investigation will re-
Qlire assistance outside Of the department. and
] nave employed as special counsel Frank b.
Kellogg, esq, OF St Paul, who was one Of the
counsel Tor the government In the recently ter
minated litigation against the Western Paper
Organization. and Charles B. Morrison. esq,
q Chicago. now United States Attorney for the
Northern District OF Illinois Mr. Morrison will
n The near future resign his place District
Attorney
The course of action I have stated has re-
ceivcd the approval Of the President and all
Tho members OF the Cabinet
Asked what he thought Of the statement from
Washington that the administration had decided TO
begin criminal actions against the Standard OIL
Company, q result OF Investigations based upon
ihe Garfield report a representative of the
poIauon said yesterday afternoon:
The President wants some sort of a giant fire.
cracker 10 get the Railroad Rate bill through Con-
gress The Standard Oh people are not worrying
over tae situation. Starting prosecution IS a
Terr different thing from getting a conviction
tf the principal Standard OH men. John d. and
William Rockefeller and John D. Arcnbold are In
Europe and Il. NJ Flagler has been out of town