Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-03-21
INVESTIGATIONS
 |NAUCURATED Herbert Knox Smith Has Things Well in Hand as Head of Bureau of Cor porations
TO CHANGE POLICIES
Matters of Widest Interest and Im-
 portance Being COnsidered- i Standard Oil Company's Rebates
 and Others Being Looked Into.

Washington, D, C., March 21.- Inquiries ordered by congress at its recent session and investigations in augurated prior to that time, but as yet uncompleted, are going for ward in the bureau of corporations. Herbert Knox Smith, who was named by the president to succeed James R. Garfield as commissioner of corporations, has the inquiries we'll in hand. During MT. Garfield s administration of the bureau, Con- missioner Smith was deputy com missioner and is, therefore, thor oughly familiar with the work. MT. Smith is a lawyer of fine ability, who, prior to his acceptance of a position in the government service, made special study of the law relating to corporations. By req son of his particular equipment for the work, he was selected by Secre- tary Cortelyou, who organized the department of commerce and labor, as deputy commissioner of cor porations. His demonstrated ef- ticiency in that position induced the g president to appoint him commis" sioner when Mr. Garfield was ap- irtn of h0 ipfn : It is not purposed of Commits sioner Smith to change the policies of the bureau instituted by Mir Gar field. He will continue the work mapped out by his predecessor and will make no change in the general character of continuity of the work. This is quite natural, as Garfield and Smith always worked in entire sympathy, instead, the latter, with the approval of Mr Garfield, handled almost wholly many important questions.
 Several matters of the widest in-  ing conslaered by the bureau of corporations The inquiry into the operations of the Standard Oil company is being pursued carefully. Some phases of that inquiry have been referred to the department of justice and already the attorney gen. eral has instituted proceedings in several states to punish the Stand ard Oil company for the giving of rebates. Practically, however, the relating feature of the investigation is the only one in which the depart ment of justice yet is actively in terested. 1t is impossible to fore tell how soon the inquiry will be concluded or what action may be taken on it's conclusion. It is pro- posed that the Standard shall obey the laws precisely as other cor porations and individuals are eN pected to obey it.
 
 ducted by Commissioner Smith into the tobacco industry, into the lrol and steel industry and into the op erations of cOast-wise steamship and sailing vessels. Recently con gres directed that the bureau 0 corporations should inquire int the operations of the New Yor] Cotton Exchange, in the interest o cotton planters and shippers; int the formation and operation of tn International Harvester compan, and into the ownership of patent used by the government, but hel by government officers.
 Thus far, the methods of the b' reau of corporations in obtaining II formation have not been subjecte to serious criticism. Ordinarily, th agents of the bureau go directly the men whose operations are be investigated and it is not ofte that they fail to secure the mo nation they want. It is regarde as the highest proof of integri and sincerity of American busine' men generally that they are vii ing to afford agents of the gover ment every facility for an examin tion into their business affairs. o casionally, an official will endeay to mislead or deceive the gover ment agent, but usually the mi is caught in his own trap. It
 creditable to American busine
 men that instances of this kind
 rare.
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