Gilpin observer., 1908-01-30
Commissioner Smith VS.. The Standard Oil Go.


large shippers in the territory had been guilty
Considering the Sact that these shippers in
cluded the packers and elevator men of Chi
cago the action of the grand jury in calling
upon President Moffett to furnish evidence OF
their wrong-doing may be interpreted as a de-
mand for an elaboration OF the obvious; but
the fact that a rate-book 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 If 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 to seven or eight times the val
ue Of its entire property, because its traffic
department did not verify the statement OF
the Alton rate clerk, that the six-cent commod-
ity rate on oil had been properly filed with the
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 18-cent rate
that the failure of the Alton to file its six
cent rate had resulted in any discrimination
against any independent shpper,-we must
take this on the word Of the Commissioner
OF Corporations and Of Judge Lands. Neither
is 1t denied even by Mr.. Smith that the "inde-
pendent" shipper of oil, whom he pictures as
being driven out of business by this dscrim-
ination Of the Alton, could have shipped an
the oil he desired to ship from Whiting vis
Dolton over the lines of the Chicago East
ern Illinois to East St. Louis. In short, Presi-
dent Moffetts defence is still good, and We
predict will be so declared by the higher court
The Standard Oil Company has been charged
with all manner of crimes and misdemeanors
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 to Miss Tarbells offensive person
alties, we finally reach the neither depths Of
unfair and baseless 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 misdoings.
The whole strength OF the Government Is d.
rected against 1t, and at last. we are told, the
Standard Oil Company is to pay the penalty OF
its crimes, and 1t is finally convicted OF hav-
ing failed to verify the statement of rate
clerk and Is forthwith fined a prodlgious sum.
measured by the car Under the old criminal
law. the theft of property worth more than a
shilling was punishable by death. Under the
Interpretation of the Interstate Commerce law
by Theodore Roosevelt and Judge Kenesaw
Lands, a technical error OF q trafic ofiicial II
made the excuse for the confscation of vast
amount Of property.