Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock calls the lease of the oil lands of the Osage Indians to the Standard Oil interests “a public scandal.” This lease was made during President Cleveland’s second term. February 17.—Six supporters of J. Edward Addicks desert him in the Delaware Senatorial fight. Government agents start to Kansas to conduct the inquiry into the Standard Oil Co. The West Virginia State Senate appoints a committee to investigate the charges that the Governor of the State has been in collusion with Standard Oil agents. February 18.—Isthmian Canal Commissioners assert that they are authorized by the President to retain fees received as directors of the Panama Railway. President Roosevelt receives a portrait of the Empress Dowager of China, sent as an evidence of China’s good will to the United States. February 20.—Ex-Chief-Justice Alton B. Parker appears before the New York Court of Appeals to argue a case in favor of the New York City Interborough Railway Company, whose chief owner is August Belmont. The United States Supreme Court sustains the Kansas Anti-Trust law, affirming sentence of fine and imprisonment against Edmund J. Smiley, an agent of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company. A special committee of the California Legislature recommends the expulsion of five State Senators on the charge of soliciting and accepting bribes. The Kansas Legislature, by concurrent resolution, asks the annulment of the Government’s blanket lease of Osage lands to the Standard Oil Company. February 21.—The Government begins criminal prosecution of the Beef Trust before a Grand Jury at Chicago called especially for that purpose. Despite the protests against it, Secretary Hitchcock decides to extend the leases of the Osage Indian oil lands. The Illinois Legislature orders an investigation of the oil pipe lines of the State, and offers to loan the State of Kansas $100,000 to aid in the fight against the Standard Oil monopoly. While J. Edward Addicks has lost all but about fifteen of his supporters in the Delaware Legislature, these decide to make the deadlock permanent and thus prevent the election of a United States Senator at this session. President Truesdale, of the Lackawanna Railroad, criticizes President Roosevelt’s attitude on rate legislation. At a dinner of the National Roosevelt League given in New York a criticism of the President’s message of condolence on the death of the Grand Duke Sergius was loudly cheered. February 23.—The Interstate Commerce Commission hands down a decision that the Santa Fé and Southern Pacific railroads have violated the law by entering into a pool. February 24.—The Department of Justice begins an investigation of the Tobacco Trust. The Board of Trade of New York City decides to begin a campaign to force an investigation of the Telephone Trust.