New-York tribune., 1879-10-15
GROWTH OF A GREAT MONOPOLY.

POWER OF THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE on
EAILsoADs-ABsrNcE OF STANDARD OFFICIALS
WHO HAD BEEN SUMMONED.
In the railway investigation by the Assem-
bly, Committee yesterday at the Chamber of Commerce.
Henry III. Rogers OF the firm OF Charles Pratt Co., was
asked IL his firm was affiliated with the SiaDdard OIL
Company n his arm shipped at the same rates ns those
OF that company and II he was member or the stahu
ard Company; hut he regarded these as private mat
ters Under advice Of counsel finally admitted that
he stockhuldcr In the Standard but he professed
great ignorance Of Its affairs lie was ignorant OF
what freight rates were paid. and whether any con-
tract existed between his firm aud the company as tn
equal rates on the railroads The Standard had re-
fneries In Cleveland, Oil City, NewYOrk ana Phiiade
phia II association into which and ont OF
which companies going and coming continually
The witness finally admitted that his firm Was in har
,rony with the Standard Company, and much amlsc-
ment was created by Mr. Sternes attempt to learn Mr.
Rogerss definition of harmony" No details were OBJ
tanned
Oh lrles F. Mills. OF the firm of AbeDdroth Brothers.
iron founders at Port Chester, on the Newfork and
NewTIavcn Road, complan"d ~ the discrimination q"
the road I'm favor Of their York rivals in charging
cents hundred from Port Chester 10 Boston. while
the rate from New-York Boston only 10 cents
hundred.
Charles L. Morehouse. OF Cleveland testified In regard
10 the IN which the Standard Company had ah
sorbcd the refinercs IN Cleveland Pitsburg, Philafe
pha and New-Yorb He was In the oil business III Cleve
land until 1873, but was obliged I" give up his business
"a very profitable One through ms inability TO get una
teria from john d. Rockaieler president of The Stand
ard Company which controlled all Tue Cleveland re-
nueres ana On account of the freight rates To the East
which twice those charged the Standard Com
paHy. Lower rates could not be obtained. Mf. ROcka
filler heran refining In Cleveland about the cIose of the
war; doing comparatively small business Hrs refinery
cost about $4,000, ana bad capacity or anoui 900
barrels dy. Ia two years The III M took The name Oi
stated $3.50 600 Tbe twenty tenneries In Glove
some were torn down an eI IN ruins. The Pennsyl-
vaua refmeTics were then absorbed by TIE Standard,
though wnh more opposition or the hiteen or twenty
In piusbur, the wlneS dad not know OF one lhai was
not controlled Dy the STANDARD Company Tie new
York nneries were merged in ihe Standard In "A sim
liar The witness was finally Obliged To sell hs tc
fncry 10 Mr. Rocka'eer for 900 II having cost him
sAloOO HIS business career Lad heeh utterly rdned
BY tne COMPANY. 80
absence o Recommendations for passengers at
the railroad station III MS town
Abel Mood, an oil commission merchant, SAID no
Thought he discrimination IN ireiEh rates h"I enliteV
destroyed the oil commission business. The con
psny. ns he understood the matter were
The standard Oh Conpany properly, J. a. Post wick,
phui the Dcvoe manufacturing Company. Johu d. Arch
bald aud the Some & Fleming Manufacturing Company
Archibald, j. A. Bostwick. Charles Pratt ana T. H.
squer They yer, not present. lie then sald " II H. Is
tend 10 appear here. They have been personally served
but thov nave not appeared before the committee eN-
| oept Mr.. Bostwick lie came here yesterday, was
! sworn. ru, excused 80 as u allow hlm 10 consult
counsel. uu II O'Clock to-day when ho said lac wOnid
be here. are disposed To SIT here dlc waiting
for witnesses whose duty To be here. There Is but
utner 20 pursue. We have herd nothing
from any them except the lcJtcr from MI Pratt th-
morning. In Wnic he eld e could not come AT II .,
or al any l.me during dal. We cannot compel IN"
attendance OF witnesses. We have 10 report these
e. emcn the bar Ui the Legislature where they can
present such they may III. The commit
Tee stands adjourned until 10 O'Clock tomorrow when
| roads OF tnis city viii bc take up
MnianI X. Garrison ana Others have been summoned
M Ibis part the Investigation. Unless IL becomes ah-
uii'cy necessary neither Cyrus W. Field Samuel
=. Idcn Will be- placed upon the stand