Chapter 421: Joint Company Immunity from Litigation
"I think the Ministry of Justice will use its own methods to make things develop in a favorable direction." Knox's smile gradually disappeared, and he said calmly, "Can I understand that you are threatening the country?"
"Can I also understand that you are threatening a legal enterprise?" Edith Rockefeller stood up in dissatisfaction and shouted without giving in, "Who do you think you are, the Russian Tsar or the German Emperor? What you say is the law. I feel that our country is rushing towards an out-of-control dictatorship, and the root cause lies in the Ministry of Justice."
"Edith, we can't be like them. Everyone knows that companies like us are the most law-abiding. How can we get involved with those who know the law but break it? They will drag us down to their level and defeat us with their rich experience." Sheffield reached out and held Edith Rockefeller's hand, pulling the woman to sit down again. He muttered to himself unmoved, "The Department of Justice does nothing every day but find trouble with legitimate businessmen. If we can talk, we will talk. If we can't, we won't talk. I'm so busy every day. How can I have time to chat with these people?"
"Don't be sarcastic." President Roosevelt took a deep look at the couple in front of him, thought for a moment and said, "We are doing things that are beneficial to the country. We don't think of ourselves as the Russian Tsar or the emperor of the German Empire. Many companies have misunderstandings about the federal government, but Northern Securities controls the country's economic lifeline, which is not allowed. As for the beef and canned food trust issues, it's not that we can't talk about it."
"Theodore!" Knox frowned and looked at his backer with some confusion.
"Please listen to me. Unlike some panicked companies, United seems to have been prepared for the antitrust law." Roosevelt nodded to his partner, then looked at Sheffield and said, "Whether it is cautious or has a vision that transcends everything, it doesn't matter now. In short, you are not worried about the Ministry of Justice at all, because we also abide by the law and will definitely follow the procedures and will never act recklessly. Then let's have a formal talk now. There is no need for sarcasm. Let's state each other's conditions and see if they can be accepted."
"I hope that during the president's term, all of United's industries will be exempted from antitrust laws. This must be guaranteed in writing by the Ministry of Justice, and I want to take this guarantee away as evidence." Sheffield was not polite at all when he heard it, and said, "To be fair, except for a few industries, United has nothing to do with antitrust laws. Beef and canned food are industries that protect the interests of farmers, not for the pursuit of profits. My company has invested heavily in emerging industries, and people in the industry have witnessed that it is to open up new employment opportunities, not highway robbery. It is different from companies like Northern Securities. Receiving a subpoena from the Ministry of Justice this time is confusing in itself. I don't think my current request is excessive."
"If it's exactly what you said, then it's not excessive at all." President Roosevelt pushed his glasses, his eyes lost in thought, and he spoke as he thought, "I want the United Company to give up the land near the Hawaiian port, and the federal government won't pay a penny, but the materials for expanding the military port can be ordered from your industry. At the same time, the Department of Justice cannot exempt the United Company, and there will only be a private compromise between the Department of Justice and the United Company. The written records can be kept with you, but you can't make them public. If you make them public, the Department of Justice will not admit it. This is a compromise agreed upon verbally by both parties."
After stating each other's conditions, Roosevelt and Sheffield fell into a long silence, thinking about what else they could do. Although it was the federal government that needed help, Roosevelt did not think that he was completely at a disadvantage, and he still had to fight for the interests that should be fought for the United States.
So after Sheffield raised his objection to the issue of land compensation, Roosevelt remained unmoved and said that the United Company should also be grateful because when the United Company encountered financial problems due to the Panama Canal, it was the federal government that resolutely took over and helped the United Company get rid of the crisis.
"That's not right, my dear Mr. President. The Panama Canal is so important to the United States Navy. Can't you see the benefits to the national interest? What you're saying now is as if you've received a hot baked potato." Sheffield spread his hands. Even if he wanted to be a hooligan, he wouldn't do that.
"I could have waited for the United Company to go bankrupt before intervening, but the fact is that I didn't." Roosevelt said with a smile, "You say it's for the national interest, but that's one-fifth of the federal government's budget. Don't you think you're losing money? As a company that takes on social responsibilities, the United Company should be grateful."
What a grateful company the United Company is. It took the initiative to blow up the dam and gave the federal government a reason to take over. Isn’t that enough?
Sheffield never thought that he had done anything wrong. It was good for the United Company and the country, but not for the black people and the country of Panama. It was obvious that both sides were wielding the butcher knife, but he shed blood. Isn't this inappropriate?
However, he also admitted that such things could not be said out loud, as it would be more disadvantageous to his side. It would be easy for the federal government to distance itself from the matter, and President Roosevelt was really not an easy opponent to deal with.
Both parties stated their conditions at the beginning, but they did not expect that these were the final conditions and any possible retreat was impossible. Sheffield led the topic to the land compensation after several unsuccessful attempts and no longer dwelled on this issue.
The exchange between the two parties was that the United Company would give up the land near the military port for free, and the federal government would purchase materials for the expansion of the military port from the United Company's subsidiaries. In exchange, the federal government would not file antitrust lawsuits against the United Company's affiliated industries during President Roosevelt's term.
The Ministry of Justice and the United Company reached a private compromise and could sign a written agreement, but it would not be made public. The lawsuit against the canned beef trust would continue to follow the process, and when the time was right, the Ministry of Justice would withdraw the lawsuit when no one was paying attention, making the entire lawsuit disappear.
This meeting was just a verbal agreement, and the two parties will then proceed to formally transfer the land and sign a compromise agreement.
"Theodore, this man is the most arrogant rich man I have ever seen." After Sheffield and Edith Rockefeller left, Knox could no longer bear the anger in his heart and said, "Let the Navy Department directly confiscate the land, what's the problem?"
"Oh, my dear friend, I know you are angry." Roosevelt looked at his friend and comforted him, "We act according to the law. We can't act like an imperial country, right? This is the weakness of our federal government. Sometimes, we are really helpless, but this is what makes our country attractive."
"Moreover, he is already prepared, more fully prepared than any other trust. On the contrary, the Justice Department's previous investigation was wrong, and they did not know the composition of this special trust. If the lawsuit continues, it is very likely that there will be no result for several years. It is not that there is no room for maneuver. The exemption of the United Company is only within my term of office. When there is more sufficient evidence, it can be reopened."
President Roosevelt comforted his capable men, hoping that the Department of Justice would not be discouraged by this minor setback. There were bigger prey in front of them, the Northern Securities Company, which they needed to fight against. When the Northern Securities Company was mentioned, Knox regained some of his fighting spirit. Yes, there were bigger prey that needed him.
"William, you are awesome." If it was a special occasion, Edith Rockefeller's compliments might have caused some colored associations, but it was still on the way. This was just a pure compliment, "You actually forced the Department of Justice to bow its head."
"It's the threat from the Japanese navy that forces our president to weigh the pros and cons. He can't really order the military to confiscate my land. If he does, it will really be no different from an imperial country." Sheffield said calmly, "And some details are worth pondering. Maybe our president is also laying the groundwork."
"You mean, if the Republicans come to power again in the next election, they will restart the investigation into United Corporation." Edith Rockefeller thought about it and felt that this was not impossible.
"They still have to be elected." Sheffield laughed and said, "If the Russo-Japanese War had broken out earlier and the Russian Empire had been defeated earlier, combined with the defeat of the Russian Empire, the Democrats might be in the White House now. It's a pity that it's impossible for all favorable conditions to be on my side. Forget it, let's not talk about things that have already resulted. I'm not someone who can't afford to lose."
Not to mention the subsequent impact, at least Roosevelt's term of office will not cause trouble for him, so this deal is not a loss. And making the Department of Justice bow its head, no matter at any time and any place, with such a result, Sheffield can hold his head high and walk with the wind.
The chief lawyer of United Company also came to Washington before the formal trial of Northern Securities Company. In the eyes of others, Pat came to observe and find evidence favorable to United Company to be used in future litigation.
However, Pat's arrogant appearance puzzled many people. They could not understand why a senior lawyer did not understand the principle of "prosperity is prosperity and adversity is adversity". Once Northern Securities Company lost the case, similar trusts would not end well.
Pat signed his name in a flamboyant manner, and then kissed him. He said to Assistant Attorney General Baker, who was representing Knox, with all his might, "I didn't expect that we would meet under such circumstances. I thank the Department of Justice for its impartiality in law enforcement. The Department of Justice is still the most sacred department of the federal government."
(End of this chapter)
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