The Minneapolis journal., 1906-12-17
SEARCH UNDER WAY
IN ! ]. LUMBER !. D. TRADE.
Garfield Already Conducting In
quiry for Evidences of
Trust.
Journal Special Service,

journal Special Service
Washington, Dec. 17.-Without watt
ing for congress to pass any resolution
on the subject, Commissioner Of Corpora
tions Garfield has begun an investiga-3
tion into the operations Of the so-called
lumber trust. a
This investigation will add one moro
to 1.-THE number Commissioner Garfield
has instituted. For more than
year he has been inquiring into the
tobacco, steel, sugar and coal Industries.
All this work is well advanced, the to-
baccS inquiry being nearest completed.
By no statement regarding any Of
tIese industries will be submitted dur
eng the present session Of congress.
The only report of this character will
come from the. interstate commerce
commission. That body will submit a
| preliminary report on the oil industry
within the next few days, and will fol-
low 1t with further reports on the grain
elevator and bituminous coal situations.
No Oil Sensations. -,
There will be nothing sensational in
the oil report. The commission will
state frankly that this subject was ex-.
haustively treated by Commissioner
Garfield and that no new facts were
developed throwing any additional light
| oii 'h0 oohouCI VI tHe foGduudrQ O1l COM
jpany. --.- --. -..- +
In the opinion of President Roose-
velt, the report will be valuable in i'm
pressing upon the country the high i'm
Portance of securing the disintegra-
ton OF this huge trust. AS move i'm
this direction, the administration con-
| slders 1T essential that the corporation
be punished for granting and receiving
REBATES to and from railroads. :;
-. Await Landis' Decision.
The administration is hopeful that
Judge Lands, should he believe the
contention Of the oil trust .iustifable,
Will decide to the contrary, in order
that the matter may be brought before
the supreme court of the United States
for final disposition. =
1t IS hoped Judge Lands will not
follow the course of Judge Humphrey,
But rather than risk everything on him,
President Roosevelt proposes to make a
special effort to have congress, before
ITS adjournment Thursday, pass the bill
adopted by the house giving the gov,
efnment right of appeal in criminal
cases. I;
I It is expected that the revelations
that will be made by the report of the
interstate commerce commission, which,
as stated, will be confrmatory of the
tfacts and conclusions of Commissioner
EGarteld, will move the senate to act.
promptly and perhaps influence Judge;
Lands to permit the case to 90 to the
supreme court, even should he conclude.
Ethat, Attorney Miller S view is correct.
~ Lumber Probe Vast. :. -.
I The operations of the lumber trust
are receiving great deal Of considera-
ton IN congress. Senator Kittredge Of
I South Dakota introduced a resolution
in the senate some days ago directing
J the commissioner Of corporations to in
Vestlgate 1.-The cause or causes oi the
high price of lumber in it's various
d stages of manufacture from the log,'
and to ascertain whether or not al lum-
r Der trust exists. A resolution to the
same effect was introduced in the house
by Representative Miller of Kansas.
these congressman apparently did not
know that the commissioner of cor
i perations already had begun an investi-
Ei cation to ascertain whether&a lumber
trust existed and its influence upon
/ prices. :" r. :, q
, Preliminary information shows that
during the last three. years the price
of lumber has advanced by regular
stages, indicating at the least unanim-
7 ity of control. The advances ranged
: from $5 to $40 a thousand feet
It will be some time before the in
yestigation is completed as there is a
great amount of work. tozbe done, as
Isociations being located. in all parts of
i the country. - @E "