The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-18
ROBBERY ALL THE SAME
Statement in Opposition to The Standard
OIL Trust by Mr.. Lockwood.
lie IS AN INDEPENDENT OIL PRODUCER
said the Standard Had Driven Inde-
pendent Refineries Into hank
ruptcy and Scrvitude.

Washington, June 1.-THE industrial
commission today heard statement from
Mr.. Lockwood. an oil producer of zeliono-
pie, Pa, In opposition to the stanard OIL
trust. Mr. Lockwood declared that this
company had driven independent refneriss
nounced the course pursued in severe
terms. It held the reins and was RESPONSE
BILE for the condition OF affairs. Going back
to 1872, he referred at length to con-
tract made by the trunk lines OF Pennsyl-
vanla with the South Improvement COM
pany. Under these contracts he said the
freight rates on oils were doubled and half
the amount collected was paid back as a
rebate. Not only this, but the contract
company received like rates for shipments
Of all other companies. This contract he
declared, had been secretly continued by
the railroads with the Standard. He
quoted a. j. Cass0tt. the new president
of the Pennsylvania railroad, as testltying
before the Interstate railway commission
to the effect that while the open rate to the
public was $l.9l per barrel, the rate to the
Standard was 80 cents, Further investlSd-
the fact that the railroad companies re-
ceiyed only 80 cents. The condition q af-
fairs had resulted for a time according 10
the witness, in giving the Standard p.oit
OF 400 per cent, while the independent re-
ineries we're being rapidly driven into
bankruptcy.
III you have got TO be robb cd" he ex-
claimed at does not matter much whether
you are hcd up by Dick Turpin with
l.. -. taftgh "a IL
road. II Is robbery all the same.
He said that men who had carefully
analysed the testimony taken before the
Hepburn commission estimated that 10 1856
months time the five trunk lines ~ the
Pennsylvania had paid the Standard COM
pany 81 900 In rebates. The railroad
companies, he said completely Ignored the
order OF the industrial State commission to
stop their discrimination In favor OF the
Standard, resorting to the system of false
billlng
Speaking of the remedy for the evil. Mr..
Lockwood said 1t was In public owner
ship Of the railroads and It was not to be
found In the courts. The courts are too
slow and expensive
1.-THE railroads and the oil company can
razoo man up and down In the courts for
ten years" he said, until he is ruined
financially, and then 80 on with their work,
ward the company paid their tools In po-
litical places, The people were gradually
fixed to the effect that the great railway
combines were gradually packing the SUI
preme court with men in sympathy with
their monopolistic tendencies and who
would do their bidding. Thus the inter-
state commerce law was rendered inef-
tective."
IF the railroad companies can control
aty,t, ,n,,t fNF tna tfnfs aral
and OF Justice OF the supreme court, what
do they care for the LAVE the witness
asked.
The only safe plan" said Mr.. Lock-
wood, lis to take the railroads out of the
hands of the corporations and place them
under the control Of the government. so
that every man could go TO the market as
cheaply as every other man" He consid-
cred all the railroads OF the country as
practically one gigantic trust and asserted
that they were in control of our politics,
contributing millions to elect legislators,
senators and Judges and to punish those
not willing to do their bidding With alb
solute equality over the roads, the indie
pendent companies would drive the stand
ard company into a secondary place In a
short time"
The afternoon session Of the commission
was characterized by a development of
differences among members as to the
character of testimony that should be sub
mitted. Mr. Lockwood made the state
mont that Judge Albert Taught. OF the
New York court OF appeals. had been Gle
waited to his present position by corpora
tons through the use OF corruption funds
Mr. Farduehar Of the commission pro-
tested against the character OF the testi-
mony, saying that it was pure libel; that
Judge Taught was his next door neighbor
and was one OF the purest men he had
ever known.
After a few general remarks as to the
advsability OF striking out the entire
statement. CONGRESSMAN Bell arose aud
made vigorous protest against the de-
mand to eliminate sany OF the testimony
II was not, he said, the province of this
commission TO tell witness what he must
say. II was competent for any man com
ins hero to return opinions upon any Of
| these subjects and to advance them or to
crltieise pu6lc officials In this connec-
ton he said that Governor Larrabee, Of
wyoming, had said that there were two
Judges on the supreme court bench who
were put there for the purpose OF Sc
curing the notification OF the granger law.
he also quoted a republican member OF
lhe congressional committee as saying this
proceeding was naught because the second
assistant postmaster general, who has
charge Of these matters, is In sympathv
with the railroads. a man was NOT sacred
he declared, because Of the place he oceu,
pied, and II Judge on the bench is ele.
waited to his position by devious means IL
Is net the duty OF the commission to
screen him.
Former Congressman Phillips. presidinc
held that the testimony was competent
In his statement before tho commission
Yesterday Prof Dow Of the Commercial
travellers association. submitted figures
20 snow that the organization OF the trusts
had resulted in throwing IS .00o ss,esr,e,,
out OF employment and in reducing the sal
aries OF 10000 more, He estimated that
the annual loss to the salesmen on account
OF the loss OF employment and reductions
amounted 70 S6o.00O,00O 10 the hotels SOS
vuo,uVV. and TO the railroads $4,000, 600
because of the loss of patronage, 'YV''SVV'
-
VIII Not lie Relieved Yet.
Washington. June 1.-THE navy depart-
f-s.