Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-01-30

large shippers in the territory had been guilty.
Considering the fact that these shippers in
cluded the packers and elevator men of Chi
cago the action OF the grand jury in calling
upon President Mofett 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 Mofett would not of course. accept the
invitation Of the grand jury although he might
have been pardoned IL 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 sixcent commod-
iiy rate on oil had been properly fled with the
Interstate Commerce Commission There is no
evidence. and none was introduced az the trial,
that any shipper Of oil from Chicago territory
had heen iaterfered with by the lscent rate
nor that the failure Of the Alton TO file its six
eent rate had resulted In any discrimination
-~-~~~N @-% A-%ER@a4rLt t1ipprIs-Nt uluSL
take this 90 the word Of the Commissioner
81 Corporations and Of Judge Landis. Neither
Is y eenlst even BY Mr.. Smith that the indie
psnient shipper Of oil. whom he pictures as
being driven cut Of business by this discrim-
inAtaon Of the Alton. could have shipped all
tae oii ne desired TO ship from Whiting via
uosto0 over the lines Of the Chicago & East
era Nliants - East ST Louis. In short Presi-
e~nr NoTett's defence is stiIl good and we
predict all Be 50 declared By the higher court.
The standard on Company has been charged
WITH all manner % crimes and misdemeanors-
beginning with the famous Rice Of Marietta.
passing down to that apostle OF popular liber-
ties Henry D-emarest Lloyd with his Wealth
Against the Commonwealth. descending by
easy stages 70 Miss TarbeITs offensive person
alities. Se nnaliy 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
tne BAR OF justice to answer for its misdoings.
The whole strength OF the Government is d.
rected against II. and at last, we are told the
standard OIL Company Is TO pay the penalty OF
us crimes. and IL is finally convicted Of hay-
ing tailed to verify the statement OF rate
clerk and Is forthwith fined a prodigious sum.
measured by the car. Under the old criminal
Jaw. the theft o. property worth more than
smiling was punishable by death. Under the
Interpretation of the Interstate Commerce law
by Theodore Roosevelt and Judge Kenesaw
Lands. technical error Of a traffic Official Is
made the excuse for the connscation Of vast
amount Of property