The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-05
ALTON ROAD
NOW TO GO
UNDER FIRE
Will Be Prosecuted for Civ.
ing Secret Rebates to
Standard Oil Co.

CHICAGO. Aug. appropriations for
tie second Federal inquiry into the re-
lations between the Standard Oil Com
Alton Railroad, ordered by Judge K. M.
Lands. of the United States District
Court, on Saturday, began today.
The call for the special Grand Jury
has already been issued. and United
States District Attorney. Sims will now
go over all the evidence presented at
the recent trial of the Standard Oil
Company of Indiana, which resulted in
conviction and a fine of 500, 26o. 900, and
will select the witnesses TO be subpoe-
naed. .
1t is now understood that the reason
for haste In this investigation is the
fact that the statute of limitations is
running against the government, and
that the Chicago and Alton will, there
fore, escape indictment on between so
and 100 counts OF the 1852 on which
the Standard Oil Company was on
victed. The statute bars prosecution on
offenses committed more thar three
years before Indictment.
Many of the shipments on which the
otdlludIu was VI VI oACCBttAA
rebates occurred between September,
1908, and August, 1904. When the
Grand Jury convenes on August IA a
few days will suffice to present the
evidence against the Alton Railroad.
The jury will consider attractions OF
the Eikins law occurring from August,
1904, until March, 1905. Subsequently
another Grand Jury will be summoned
- 4oI~1 AA-ntva0a1 80 aNfanuo5 nnV,
mitted from March. 1905, until June
effect.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 5.-Followins
hard on the smashing blow delivered
20 the STANDARD Oil Company by Fed
eral Judge Lands at Chicago, the gov
has made public a crushing
array of figures gathered by Herbert
Knox Smith, the Commissioner of Cor
porations. These figures show;
First. that the vast Rockefeller mon
opoly since 1882 has paid out &52.0O0.000-
more than half a billion-ln dividends, all
the time piling up. in addition a surplus
which as long ago as 1896 had aggre'
gated nearly Ss0,000.0O0 and has sinct
grown to unknown proportions.
Second. that the oft-repeated boast OF
Tic Oidi0dIO Ols lticl ~ Hdu itQdtCu tif
price of oil and thus had been Of beneh'
TO the consumer, is false now and always
has been false.
The present report of COMMISSIONS
Smith is supplemental to his two pre-
vious reports, which dealt chiefly with
the methods used by the Standard, this
dominant factor in the industry, to Sc
cure and maintain hat domination
and described the character and exteni
of its control. The present report set:
forth the results of such methods ant
their effect on the consumer and on tht
profits of the Standard Oil Company.
THE Standard" says COMMISSIONS
Smith, has consistently used its power Il
raise the price of oil during the last tel
years, not only absolutely, but also rela
lively to the cost OF crude OIL"
The commissions shows the profits oil
Illuminating oil to have advanced per gal
Ion as follows:
September, 1897 to December, 1899. 8 81
cents; from 1900 TO 1902. 6 cents; from 100
to June. 1905, 1910 cents
This was an increase in profit of / 81
cents per gallon in eight years.
when 1t is remembered says the com
missioner. that from 7-l0 of a cent to
cent per gallon constitutes a good profit
the meaning of an increase Of / $40 cent
is evident"
A much greater increase in profits, h