The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1908-02-05

large shippers In the territBry had been guilty.
Considering the fact that these shippers In
cluded tie packers and elevator men OF Chi
cago the action OF the grand jury in calling
upon President Moffett TO furnish evidence OF
their wrongdoing may be interpreted as a de-
mand for an elaboration OF the obvious: but
the fact that a ratebook containing these
freight fates for other shippers was offered in
evidence during the trial and ruled out by
Judge Lands. was kept out OF sight. Presi-
dent Moffett would not. OF course. accept the
invitation OF the grand jury although he might
have been pardoned II he had referred them
to various official Investigations by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission and other de-
partments OF the Government
We come back. therefore. TO the conclusion
OF the whole matter, which is that the Stand
ard OIL Company OF Indiana was fined an
amount equal 10 seven or eight times the val
ne OF its entire property. because its trafiic
department did not verify the statement of
the Alton rate clerk. that the six-cent commod-
lily rate on oil had been properly filed with tho
Interstate Commerce Commission. There is no
evidence. and none was introduced at the trial.
that any shipper Of OIL from Chicago territory
had been interfered with by the lS-cent rate
nor that the failure OF the Alton TO file It's six
cent rate had resulted in any discrimination
against any independent shipper,--we must
take this on the word OF the Commissioner
OF Corporations and OF Judge lands. Neither
is II denied even by Mr.. Smith that the "inde-
pendent shipper Of oil. whom he pictures as
being driven out OF business by this dlscrim-
nation OF the Alton. could have shipped all
the oil he desired to ship from Whiting via
BOLTON over the lines OF the Chicago & East
ern Illinois to East ST. Louis. In short, Presi-
dent Moffett's defence is still good. and we
predict viii be so declared by the higher court.
The Standard OIL Company has been charged
with all manner OF crimes and mlsdemeanors.
Beginning with the famous Rice OF Marietta.
passing down to that apostle Of popular liber-
ties. Henry Demarest Lloyd with his Wealth
Against the Commonwealth descending by
easy stages 10 Miss Tarbelrs offensive person.
alities. we finally reach the neither depths OF
unfair and baseess misrepresentation In the
report OF the Commissioner OF Corporations
The Standard has been charged with every
form OF commercial piracy and with most OF
the crimes on the corporation calendar After
long years OF strenuous attack under the
leadership OF the President OF the United
States the corporation is at last dragged to
the bar Of Justice to answer for its nisdoings.
The whole strength of the Government Is d.
rected against II. and at last we are told. the
Standard oil Company is 10 pay the penalty OF
its crimes, and i is finally convicted OF hay
ing failed TO verify the statement OF rate
clerk and is forthwith fined prodiglous sum.
measured by the car Under the old criminal
law. the theft OF property worth more than o
shilling was punishable by death Under the
Interpretation Of the Interstate Commerce law
by Theodore Roosevelt and Judge Kenesaw
Landis a technical error OF trafic official Is
made the excuse for the confiscaton OF a vast
amount OF property.