New-York tribune., 1908-12-16
ARCHBOLDON PUBLICITY
RACK IN WTTNESS CHAIR.
Says Corporations Should Take
Public Into Their Confidence.

John D. Arehbold was recalled as witness yes
terday by counsel for the Standard OIL Company
in the government suit to dissolve the trust His
testimony closed the hearings at least until De
cember o. and there may be session then That
will depend whether the Standards counsel have
forgotten TO put something Of vital Importance in
the records of the case. If not January will see
the resumption of the
Mr.. Archbold smiled broadly as he entered the
room. He shcok hands vigorously with Franklin
Ferris the federal referee. Seems Ike old times.
was his greeting Frank b. Kellogg, the deputy
United States Attorney General. late and the
active head of the Standard stroed over to group
discussing the Asked what he thought about
the publicity given to the affairs OF his company ne
said
Il believe that corporations should take the pub
lie into their confidence. The interest in their al
fairs as to investments is likely TO he widespread
and the people should know just what Is oelhS
done that is so far be without disclosing
affairs that might be of benefit to competitors
Mr Archbold said this had been the policy CT the
Standard for several years and that it had proved
of "alI-around benefit" He said there should be a
national act to avoid confusion. Competition among
the states regarding the efforts to induce business
enterprises to incorporate under their laws was not
a healthy condition he said. He referred 70 the
Presidents recommendation in favor Of national
law in support of his view
Moritz Rosenthal of counsel for the company,
started in as soon as Mr.. Kellogg arrived. with
incursion into the foreign field to show that the
Standard did have a free hand there. Then
Mr.. Archbold asked to identify records Of
the companies acquired by the big corporation and
turned in under the trust agreement of 1879. He
also looked over papers prepared under his direc-
tion in response TO requests of the government
counsel. Then came demand. cross-examina-
tion. for records which had not been furnished.
RECORD OF s22oOoOoO LOAN LOST"
Mr.. Archbold had not produced the record Of the
loan of S2 600 900 to P s. Trainer pipe line rep
resentatve of the company in the South. Again
and again Mr. Kellogg tried to get the witness to
tell the purpose Of the loan, but he would reply
'I don't know 1t matter of adjustment.
he supposed a mere matter of bookkeeping. moth
ing more, he loosely he said that IT
must have strayed. been lost stolen, he didn't
have it in his pocket. and he dug his hands deep
into his trousers pockets if looking for the
s22O00O00.
The active head of the Standard Oil Company had
failed to produce a copy of the balance sheet of
1882 showing the transfers Of stock at that time,
something Mr.. Kellogg anxious to have in the
records. The books. journal and ledger, showing
the transfers of the original trust certificates, and
also the transfers when the Ohio company was dis
solved could be found.
Are you looking for them?" asked Mr.. Kellogg.
We doing nothing else there at No. IS
Broadway than looking for things for you. inter
posed John G. Milburn. counsel for the company.
year has passed since Mr. Kellogg asked for
these particular books. and he said warmly that it
would seem that year time enough to see
whether they could be produced The list Of d.
rectors in the Anglo-American Oil Company, a
Standard subsidiary. had not been furnished nor
had the English books. showing what became of
the g. 700 900 loan James Mcdonald The govern
ment counsel will not get the English books Mr.
Mburn and Mr.. Rosenthal have said that Mr..
Archbold has power TO have them produced.
The morning session continued until 1:so
o'clock enable Mr.. Rosenthal to get in all the
points he desired TO put the records, that he
might take early train fer Chicago. Mr.. Ferris
wanted take afternoon train for his home in
St Louis. The s-examination in the afternoon
conducted without the referee, and Mr.. Mil
burn took Mr.. RosenthaIs place.