Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-07
OILY DISCLOSURES
pvmRR rHB HoGsg COxyIfTRE INyEsn.
GAZING TRUSTS.
,A. Standard Oil Company tie SOtjss Of Inquiry
.-Dstsils Of the Agreement Of The hO-
ducss Association With The
Drlllsn' Union.

WASHINGTON, April 6. The House
committee ON Manufactures to-day began
an inquiry into the alleged Standard oil
,,u.t under the authority conferred upon
.bs committee by the House to investigate
all trusss or conbinstions
Hsnry webster, Of Bradford, Pa, con-
tractor for drilling oil weeks, testified that
bs vas member Of The Oil Well Dillets'
Association, . labor organization, composed
of nine lodges, representing practically the
a,,;,s Northern Pennsylvania and South.
srn New York oil held. II was IN en-
tirslv separsss body from the sopslled
Prc6uoer Association. The enionn wss
orv,ni,rd December & 1878, and
numbered between 2, 300 and 2, 400 men.
witness refused to divulge the names
of the officers. Before the formation Of
the union, work in drilling an6 rieaniuE'
out oil wells had become very slack owing
10 the determination OF the Producers As
socistiou to diminish the production Of oil.
n vss understood that one million barrels
Of oil had been set apart by the Standard
Oil Company and one million by the Pro
dueers Association for he benefit OF labor
inc men thrown ont by this shutting down
movement. The Oil Dr,ller union was
formed TO secure the benefit of this action.
Since the union was formed oil drilling
had practically ceased. Witness ha4 eeoe
no work since that date and had eyea
SIS as his share OF the amo9 ~
aside for those thrown out q HWk.
witness laid before the commit cepy
of the agreement entered into eDm-
bar -. 1887, between the Execu eefd
of the Produoer' Protective nfion
and the Executive Board Of the " MIL
ers' Union. The contract provid Dens
other things, that the Pnoduca9 1cAA-
tion shall pay 10 the Well Drill unbon
the profits on ono million befs4 a 81
and the residae Of profit On - ! NM
lion barrels thst may remain Afo3e9yest-
ing and paying the other Glasses Of labor
injured BY the shut down movement,
the cost price Of the oil being
~ cents per barrel on November 1, 1851,
and subject TO interest, storage and drs.
les charges from that date. Thess profits
are TO be distributed. AL persons entitled
70 the benefit shall devote their time and
attention to the stopping Of drilling during
the continuance Of the agreement and shall
report weekly 10 . desiguatcd officer In
each district. These shall be an officer
selected by the Executive Board q ~
local lodges, whose duty Il shall bs b keep
A look out for and endeavor 10 prtvsos ~
drilling Of wells when ordered to do sqey
either Of the parties TO the aefssle
Members Of the committee shall rscQe
tl Der day and expenses in addition e
THAR nav a members Of tho Unioo. q
No member Of the Union shall sokAgt y
the drilling or cleaning ont Of any wslUs
the lighter fields without the consent sfyss
officer of the Producer Protective AsoQ3
alton, in the district 10 which hs hGlDa1s
Witness stated his belief that u
been attempts TO drill wells In
Kune Co. since the agresmeat - |
eject without the consent q p1Re -
contract. he had heard u thzo&
being made 70 destroy aRpere
N. = nd N GrilliuI thGEm e . NJ | -