The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-01-30
Commissioners Smith VS.. The STANDARD Oil Go.
From the RaiIrqy Woyld. Jarray > I0os.

Mr. Herbert Knox Smith, whose real IN The
cause OF economic reform has been in no wise
abated by the panic which be and his kind die
so much 70 bring on. Is out with an answer to
President MoRett. Of the Standard Oh Com
pany OF Indiana The publication of this an
sWer. il Is officially given out was delayed sex
eral weeks. for business reasons because II
was not deemed advisable 10 further excite
the public mind. which Was profoundly dis
turbed by the crisis. Nov that The storm
clouds have rolled BY. however. the Commis
sioner ruEhes again into the fray.
Our readers remember that the chief points
in the defence Of the Standard OH Company. ss
presented BY President Momett, we're % that
the date o. six cents on oil from Whiting 70
East St Louis has been issued 10 the Standard
OIL Company as the lawful rate by employees
o. the Alton, 81 that the i¢ rate on Gle
with theIuterstate Commerce Commission was
a class and not a commodity rate. sever being
intended 10 apply 20 oh. 90 that oil was
shipped ia large quantities between Whiting
and East ST. Louis over the Chicago & East
ern Illinois at ca cents per hundred pounds.
which has been filed with the Interstate Com
merce Commission as the lawful rate. and -
that the 1G-cept rate on oil was entirely out Of
proportion 10 lawful rates on other commodi-
ties between these points Of q simliar char
hNNa anu 4a EAhANNA AAANEH EAAA ia AAAA.aA
IS nnseed oil. the lawful rate on which was
eight cents. President Mofeit also stated that
thousands Of tons Of freight had been sent by
other shippers between these points under
Substantially the same conditions as governed
the shipments OF The Standarl OH Company.
This defense OF the standard Oh Company
was widely quoted and has undoubtedly exert
Cd a powerful influence upon the public mind.
Naturally the Administration. which has
siaked the SUCCESS % its campaign against
the trusts" upon the result Of SIS attack upon
this company. endeayora 10 Offset this inna-
euee. and hence the new dellverance Of Com
missioner Smith.
We need hardly TO point out that his rebut-
tai arEumen5 IS extremely weak. although as
strong, no doubt. as the circumstances would
warrant lie answers the points made by Psesl-
dent McEett substantially CT follows; ca The
Standard on Company hadat raf3c department
and should have known hat the siH-ceut rate
had not bcen nled. iel no answer. go the Chi.
CAGE a. Eastern Illinois rate vas a secret rate
because "a read. not from Whiting bat from
Dolton. which is described as a village q
about 1890 population just outside a Chicago.
It's oEly claim 10 note IS that it has been Tor
mauy wears the point Of origin for this and
simllgr secret rates The Commissioner ad.
mlc IN describing lhis rate that there was d
nuie attached stating that the rate could also
BE- used from whiting
The press has Qaite generally hailed this
statement 90 the Commlssionc- of Corpora.
lions as a conclusive rcfutauon 81 what Is eyf
IDENTIFY reeoruiEed as The stronr,st rebuttal
argument advanced by the standard
ln fact. s. 81 as weak and iaeouciusive us the
remainder % his argument The lines of ns
chicaEo a Eastern llHaois do not run into