The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-17

M Herbert Knox Smith. whose zeal in the
eafise Of economic reform has been in no wise
sbafed by the panic which he and his KIND did
20 much 10 bring on, is out with an answer 10
President hloffett, of the Standard OIL Company
,of indiana. The publication OF this answer u IS
officially given out. was delayed several weeks,
sor Business reason" because 1t was not deerued
advisable 10 further excite the public mind,
which was profoundly disturbed by the Crisis
Now that the storm clouds have rolled BY, how
eyer, the commissioner rushes again into the
fray.
Our readers remember that the chief points in
the defence of the Standard Oil Company, as
presented by President Moffctt, were. W that
the rate of six cents on oil from Whiting to East
ST. Louis had been issued to the STANDARD on
scoupany as the lawful rate by employees Of the
Alton. al that the Recent rate on file with the
Interstate Commerce Commission was class
and not commodity rate, never being intended
10 apply 10 OIL (3) that oil was shipped IN large
quantities between Whiting and East St. Louis
over the Chicago and Eastern Illinois at SIX ana
one-fourth cents per hundred pounds when
has been filed with the Interstate Commerce
Commission as the lawful rate, and ca that the
Recent rate on oil was entirely out OF proper
ion to lawful rates on other commodities be-
tween these points of similar character, and OF
.,reater value. such, for example, as linsced oil,
the lawful rate on which was eight cents Pres
adent Moffett also stated that thousands OF tons
of freight had been sent by other shippers be-
tween these points under substantially the same
conditions rs governed the shipments of the
Standard Oil Company
This defence OF the Standard Oil Company
was widely quoted and has undoubtedly cxcrted
a powerful influence upon the public mind Nat
4irally the Administration which has stakcd the
SUCCESS Of its campaign against the trusts upon
ftc result of its attack upon this company. en-
.deavors to offset this influence, and hence the
zIcw dciiycrance OF Commissioner Smith.
We need hardly to point out that his rcbutta
argument is extremely weak, although as strong,
no doubt as the circumstances would warrant
He answers the points made by President Mot
1T substantially as follows: CD The Standard
OH Company had traffic department, and
shoild have known that the siN-cent rate had
not been filed. (2) answer. Cd the Chicago
and Eastern Illinois rate was = secret rate be
csl,sr It read not from Whiting but from Dol
ION. which is described as "a village OF about
h 700 population just outside Of Chicago. Its
only claim 10 note is that it has been for many
wears the point OF origin for this and similar
secret rates. The Commissioner admits in dc
scrihing this rate that there was note attached
stating thai the rate could also be used from
Whiting. o
The pr, has quito generally hailed this
statement OF the Commissioner of Corporations
as conclusive rcfutation OF what is evidently
: recognized as the strongest rcbuttal argument
advanced by the Standard
In fact it is as weak and inconclusiye rs tho
remainder of his argument. The lines OF the
Chicago and Eastern Illinois do not run into