The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-01-30

ritory had been guilty Considering the fact
that these shippers included the packers and ele-
Natur men of Chicago the action OF the grand
jury in calling upon President Mofctt 10 fur
nish evidence of their wrong doing may be in
tcrprctcd as a demand for an elaboration OF ;hs
obvious; but the fact that ratc-book contain
ing these freight rates for other shippers was
offered III evidence during the trial and ruled
ont by Judge Lands, was kept out of sight
President Mofctt would not, of course, accept
the invitation of the grand jury although hc
might have been pardoncd if he had referred
them TO varons official Investigations by the
Interstate Commerce Commission and other de-
partments Of the Government
We come back therefore, to the conclusion Of
the whole matter, which is that the Standard
Oil Company OF Indiana was hned an amount
equal to seven or eight times the value OF its
entire property because its traffic department
did not verify the statement of the Alton rate
clerk that the srA-Ccut commodity rate on oil
had been properly filed with the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission. There is no evidence. and
none was introduced at tho trial, that aly ship
mcut Of oil from Chicago territory had beca IN
tcrfcrcd with by the cIghtcen-ceut rate nor that
the failure of the Alton to file its siN-ccut ratc
had resulted IN any discrimination against any
independent shipp"r-wc must take THIS on the
word OF the Commissioner OF Corporations and
Of Judge Lands Neither is it denied even by
Mr. Smith that the independent Shppe. OF oil
whom he pictures as being driven out OF business
By this discrimination OF the Alton, could have
shipped all the oil he desired to ship from Whit
ing via Dolton over the lines OF the Chicago and
Eastern Illinois to East St Louis In Short
President Mottctts 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 misdemcanors
Beginning with the famous Rice of Marietta,
pas uS down To that apostle OF popular ber-
ties Henry Demarcst Lloyd with has Wealth
Against the Commonwealth. descending by easy
stages to Miss Tarbels offensive personalities,
we finally reach the neither depths OF unfair and
baselcss Misrepresentation in the report OF the
Commissioner OF Corporations The Standard
has been charged with every form OF CONNER
cial piracy and with most of the crimes the
corporation calendar After long years OF stren-
uous attack, under the leadership of the Pres-
dent 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 Gov
eminent is directed against il, and at last, wa
are told, the Standard Oil Company is TO pay
the penalty Of its crimes, and il is finally con.
yicted OF having failed 10 verify the statement
OF rate clerk and Is forthwith fined a prodig-
ious sum, measured by the car Under the OLD
criminal law, the theft Of property worth more
than shilling was punishable by death. Under
the Interpretation Of the Interstate CornElercs
law BY Theodore RooIcvet and Judge K-cessw
Landis q technical error cf ts..h: ofhcial /,
made the excuse for the ccnGsca,ioa Of : va.'
amount OF property.