Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-01
souABBLE OVER THE OIL TRUST.
What Rockefeller Don't Know-The Com.
mittee'4 Dignity in Danger.

|
WASHINGTON CITY, May LIN the contin
| uation of the investigation of trusts yester-
day by the manufacturers committee of the
house, Mr. John D. Rockefeller, president OF
| the Standard Oil trust, was examined. He
| seemed to know very little about the facts
sought to he discovered by counsel, but
agreed to furnish the information when he
| returned to New York. The questions
asked were as to the number of barrels of oil
refined by the Standard Oh company in 1887,
| the capacity of the retineries merged in the
trust since the beginning of 1898, and the
character of the natural gas interests of the
company in Indiana. He said that the only
| oil product that competed with American pc
| troleum was the Russian; that the company
had no agents abroad; that it had never tried
to secure an interest in the Russian oil fields
or products. He denied that the Standard
| trust was interested in any other forms of
business, save that pertaining to the oil in
| dustry
Smith [of the committeel-Are you con-
nected with the iron businessf Rockefeller
| with smile1-No
"Are you in the soap business2' "No."
i Smith-Mr, Rockefeller, the Standard oil
witnesses that this committee has tried to ex-
| anime have shown a marvellous shortness of
memory about their own business, and Tex
citedlyl we all know that you are engaged in
an immense business, and none of you seem
to know anything about it. Rockefeller
would be glad, Mr.. Smith, to tell you any
thing that knew about my business.
In answer to questions by Buchanan,
Rockefeller said the trust had been formed
since January, 1882; he had never seen its
books; trustees meet once quarter in New
York; the record of money received from
the various refineries and paid to the trustees
is kept by Secretary Flagler, these records
are now at 26 Broadway, New York. In
conclusion, Rockefeller agreed, at the re-
quest of Counsel Gowen, to furnish the
amount of trust certificates issued against
the stock of the merged refinery companies.
George W. Taylor, the auditor of the Penn
sylvania railroad, was placed on the stand
and sworn, when Mr.. John Scott, counsel for
the Pennsylvania railroad, entered protest
in the name of the company against the ex-
animation of the witness by counsel, He
held that the committee has no power to en-
ploy counsel without the consent of congress,
and also that it was not proper for the com
mittee to employ Mr.. Gowen, whom he be-
lieved to be an attorney for the Tidewater
Pope Line company which is part of the
National Transit company, an association
pooled with the Standard Oil trust Gowen
replied that he had resigned his connection
with the Pipe Line company, and denounced
the statement as false and malicious.
The committee, after sharp cross-firing be-
tween Scott and Gowen went into executive
session to consider the question raised. Half
an hour later the chairman announced that
the point made by Scott was overruled
Scott thereupon stated that he should in
stTuct the witnesses of the Pennsylvania rail
road to decline TO answer questions from
counsel, or from anybody except members of
the committee Taylor was then put on the
stand, but by advice from Scott he refused
to answer questions put by Gowen. The
chairman of the committee then took up
questions, all of which he answered fully, de
nying that there are so far as he knew or
believed, any difference in the rates made TO
any shippers of oil on the Pennsylvania rail |
road
7. 5. Wilson, of the Pennsylvania road, |
who has charge Of freight contracts, gave |
similar testimony.
A controversy here arose relative 10 a sub |
pnna issued for the secretary of the Penn |
sylvania Railroad company, Scott insisted |
that it had been said in COMMITTEES that the |
subpoena had been issued without authority. |
This statement was denied by the chairman |
who silence Scott by saying that the dignity |
Of the committee must be maintained, and |
that he would permit no further reteratinn
If the statement by Scott after il had been
lenied by the committee The chairman
also announced that the questions asked of
Archbold and F1aRler, relative 10 the owner
ship of certain shares OF the oil trust hold by
parties outside the organization, and the de
ais as to individual holdings would not be
insisted upon by the committee