The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-06-22
ENGINEERED FROM CANADA.
Interstate Commerce Commission
Has Dug Up Corruption in
Coal and OIL.
SENDS OUT LETTERS TO RAILROADS.

Second only TO the interest in the
mea, inspection bill is that aroused
this week by the Department Of Justice
in finding indictments against the Fer
tilizcr Trust. This trust is Of more
interestto the south thar 10 the north
as il has operated most largely in the
states Of Tennessee, Alabama, Arkan-
sas. Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and
North and South Car lima. The indict-
ments found against il are six IN num-
Der and charge violation OF the Sher-
man law and conspiracy in restraint Of
trade. II is said that in the states
where the trust has operated. It has
been able 10 put up the price Of ferti-
lzer from 81 ~ 10 81 ton above what
IL would have been under free competi-
tion. The price has already dropped
an average Of s. 80 per ton since the
prosecutions have been impending.
one Of the neat tricks Of the trade
that this investigation has unearthed
has been the fact that the trust was
practically engineered from Canada.
There was q company organized up
there under the laws Of Ontario known
as the Colonial Development Company
and supposed % have nothing 20 DO
with the fertilizer m the states But
as matter Of fact It was acting as the
controlling company Tor AL of twenty
six supposedly independent companies
In the United States and was adjusting
territory. regulating sales and disirib'
ut.nr profits. Now an Of these uniteI
State. companies have been drawn int
the ease as defendants Among other,
it will bcnotIccd that Amour, Swift ant
some other. u the big meat companies
with whom fertilizer is au important
los product hay, beer caught in the net
and will have 90 answer Tor their par
tcipatou in this as Tor a number of
their other sins.
To-
Il took the Interstate Commerc,
Commission n good while to get busy
in the coal and oil investigation under
the Tillman Gillespie resolution. i
will be remembered that the first reply
sent to Congress by the Commission
was no reply at all and was indignant,
returned by the authors Of the rcsolu
tiun with the order TO get to work
Well. the Commission has been work
nig and has already turned a good dca
of interesting material IN the way 81
graft and corruption. But this week
/, sent out a circular letter TO all Of III,
railroads in the country that will fur
nish material for at least one yolum'
of It's prospective report. Il want
10 know the relation Of all the roads &
the coal and oil companies along theil
routes. ~ course this will not touci
al u the roads. because many u then
Washington H. C. June l9. Interest
in the Reef Trust fight still keeps 9,
the fore. The latest excitement ans
resentment has been az the Capita
where a letter from the President land
ed late this week telling chairman
wadswor,h Of the Agricultural Com
mittcc Just what the President thought
of the substitute Tor the Bcycridg'
Amendment proposed by the majority
Of the committee. The lcttcrEocs over
the situation In detail and shows thai
the House substitute for the inspection
law is about a. bad as Il could hc u
appears to have been drawn hy thI
counsel Tor the packers and II It has
been. rs Il probably was, it couh moi
more nearly meet the requirements OF
the Beef Trust, The President saN'
that he may sign It, bu, that u he doc'
4, will be with plainly written reserva.
tons Il is more probable that the
measure will not be passed at all at
this session and that the whole matter
will be allowed to 40 over This would
suit the wishes Of the Beef Trust and
Of all their friends Of whom they have
many In the House,