The times., 1899-09-08
Mr.. Boyle DispIeased.

Mr.. Boyle DispIeased.
Up to this time the session had proven
very uninteresting to many of the Com
missioners, and they had broken the mo-
notony with frequent maps even the clerk
whom Mr. Boyle had brought with him TO
! assist in rhe arrangement of his many
papers. had fallen asleep in his chair. The
clerk. rudely awakened by the call for
'-the libel papers, was confused and In
aable TO find them. and Mr.. Boyle left the
witness stand and impatiently scattered
his papers until he came across the docu-
ments. 1t was evident he was much dis
pleased at having to go into this subject.
He was not allowed 10 proceed far before
Commissioner Farquhar objected TO any
questions bringing the character of the
witness into question. This suggestion was
seconded by Commissioner Smythe. and
Acting Chairman Phillips hastily said:
without objection, this subject viii be
proceeded with no further, and the ques-
I tions and answers in regard to the libel
suits will be stricken from the minutes
Before the testimony was stopped, how
ever, Mr.. Boyle said he had been sued half
dozen times for libel Each one of the
suits had been brought by members of the
Producers Protective Association. Con-
viction had been obtained twice judgment
had been confessed in two others, and one
lad resulted in a failure TO convict. The
result of the sixth suit was not made
known. The testimony at this juncture had
the appearance of assuming somewhat of
a personal nature, as Mr.. Lee, with whom
Mr. Boyle had some words at the eonelu-
sion of his first days testimony, was sit
ting near the witness stand. Mr.. Lees re-
mark to the witness at the conclusion of
Wednesdays testimony, that he had con-
victed him once for libel and would do it
again. was called to mind as the witness
turned in his chair and glaring at Mr..
Lee remarked:
Nothing more infamous was ever peTpe-
trated than by these gentlemen, VINO call
themselves men. They did not possess the
deceney 10 give me a trial in my own
courts at home, and the very judge who at
tempted conviction was 2 partner CT at
least two of the gentlemen who brought
the suit Yet he had the hardihood 10 sit
there in judgement filed with prejudice,
poisoned with it, and in a matter in which
the public was very little concerned
Mueh-Abused Concern.
The witness said he would not mention
the name OF the Judge, but the matter
was of record and could be aseertained.
Prof Jenks was being answered as TO
who brought the different suits, when the
interruption came from Mr. Farquhar. The
testimony of Mr. Boyle was concluded
shortly after this. In the matter OF the
charge that the Standard Oil Company had
purchased newspaper space TO create SEN
tfmeat in their favor, the witness said that
this was the only way they had of replying
10 vicious attacks published against them.
He said there WAS not newspaper in
Pittsburg which would publish line ia
vorable TO the Standard Oil Company for
less than 50 cents a line. In this, as in
many other respects Mr.. Boyle expressed
the opinion that the Standard Company
was very much abused The company was
not given credit for what it had done for
the oil industry. He asserted that the
present condition Of the oil industry
was due TO the splendid organization and
methods OF this company He said the
Standard oil Company was not at present
governed by q trust organization. 1t was,
however. being reorganiZed under the laws
OF New Jersey.
The Pure Oil Company he denounced as
a trust and said its methods were de-
signed to be as closely possible similar
to those Of the Standard Oil Company, but
to be carried or in the dark. Mr.. Boyle
said that so far as labor went, there was
no class Of labor which Jared so we'll as
oil workers. and the laborers were very
loyal 10 the interests of their employers.
| An average of 81, GOO a year could be made
by an oil well driller. working an average
Of 200 days a year. The witness behind the
Standard Oil Company looked with favor
on labor organizations, but in the oil indus
try labor organizations were not common.
the work being done mostly by individual
contract All Of the Gil companies were
very well satisfied with the present condi-
tion Of the oil industry.
b. a Matthews, who manages the bust
ness Of the Standard Oil Company in Ohio,
with headquarters al Columbus. took the
stand at As to contradict the testimony
given some time since by ". Il. Clark. OF
Marietta. Mr.. Matthews had his state
ment typewriter. and began by saying that
Clark was employed by the company when
a boy and remained so until he was dis
charged for a shortage in his accounts after
he had been promoted several times. The