Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-06
Editor Boyle Describes the Develop
ment Of the Industry.
WITNESS BEFORE THE COMMISSION
Efforts to Ascertain His Attitude
Toward the Trust
FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS

morning at 10 o'clock in the Bliss building,
opposite the Capitol, a series of hearings
upon trusts, with Mr.. Phillips of Pennsyl-
vania In the chair.
The first witness was Mr.. P. c. Boyle.
editor of the Oil City Derrick. a newspaper
published in the interests of the petroleum
industry. Mr.. Boyle stated to Star re-
porter before beginning that his object
would be to demonstrate that the oil pro-
ducers had not been afflicted by a monop-
oily.
When Mr. Boyle took the stand he had
at hand a big package of papers. They
were in a travelling bag about three feet
long by foot and a half wide and sixteen
inches high.
What have you there?" Mr.. Boyle's as
sistant was asked.
"Only a few notes." he replied: "about
seven thousand typewriter pages"
Mr.. Boyle was sworn by Acting Chair
man Phillips, who thereupon proceeded to
endeavor to place Mr.. Boyle's position
with respect to the Standard Oil trYst.
You are the editor of the Oil City Der
rick"
Yes. SIR, and 1 own the controlling in
terest in the paper
rs not the Standard Oil Company inter-
ested in the Derrick" asked Mr.. Phillips
The paper is the organ of the oil pro-
ducers," replied Mr.. Boyle.
Have any adverse criticisms OF the
Standard Oil Company ever appeared IN
the Derrick
''Oh. unQuestionably."
well, have any criticisms of the Oil
trust appeared within the past ten years.
There has been no occasion for criticism
of the Standard Oil Company within that
time"
But the Derrick is friendly to the oil
trust?'
TT is friendly to the entire trade
Has 1t not been adverse to the indie
pendent producers?'
1T has stood hand-in-glove with all pro-
ducers except those who would impose a
vice.
You would consider it imposing tax
on the producers for refiners and produc-
ers to build into a given field pipe line
for their own benefit?
so long there was an efficient SER
vice and performed at the same cost
would consider it hardship to have
duplicate"
At this point the proceedings were inter-
rupted by Mr. Smythe of the commission,
who objected to the examination of the
witness at the present stage He suggested
that the witness should first be permitted
to make his statement and then be cross
examined
Chairman Phillips said his purpose was
merely to bring out the witness status
with respect to the Standard Oil Company.
IL
the witness make his statement first, he
would desist.
''rhere is one question. however" said
Mr.. Phillips. that 1 will take the liberty
of asking at this time: Upon whose solicit
tation do you appear before this commits
sion?'
Upon my own solicitation" replied Mr..
Boyle.
.'And did you not confer with the Stand
ard Oil people before coming"
The answer to this question was lost in
the general laugh which passed around the
room.
Their examination of the witness was then
abandoned, and he proceeded to make his
statement from his little bundle of notes,
the 1000 typewriter pages.
History of OIL Production.
Mr. Boyle first read a general review Of
the history of oil production in the United
States showing exhaustive and careful re-
search in that direction by the author. He
brought the history of oil production down
10 recent years, and gave many statistics
of the trade.
Mr. Boyle traced the gradual develop
ne nt of the oil industry; the appearance OF
the pipe line means of transportation
from the well to the railroad station; the
use Of tank cars instead of barrels; the use
Of the torpedo in shooting wells; the cheap
ening of operation and leSsening of the
cost of oil to the consumer. He referred to
the speculative period, the collapse of the
great "oil bubble" and the settling of the
business upon solid basis
At stage in Mr.. BOyles remark ref
erence was made to the tax of $1O0 bar
rel which was levied crude oil during
the civil war. Mr.. Phillips. by way of ex-
PLANTATION, said that this tax operated I'M
equally. He claimed that the small pro-
ducers could not pay it. while the large
producers could afford to do so.
Then" said Representative Livingstone
of the commission. you mean to say that
it cost more. per barrel, to produce oil in
small quantities than in large quantities.
Yes"
We'll" said Mr. Livingstone lis not
that an argument In favor of combination
cheapening the cost of production"
Mr.. Phillips said that the effects of COM
binations were not now under discussion.
Recess Taken.
At l O'Clock a recess was taken until 2
o'clock. when. upon reconvening, Mr.. Boyle
continued his historical review of the oil
industry.
The Chicago Discussion of Trusts.
At the meeting of the Industrial commits
sion, held yesterday, the following resolu-
ton was adopted:
Resolved, That the commission select
one representative Of each of the four sub
commissions who, with Professor j. W.
jerks, shall represent the United States
Industrial commission at the trust meeting
of the Civic Federation, September ID to
Is, for the purpose of seeking information
on the trust question, but not to bind this
commission as to any findings of the ma
ttonal conference on Industrial, CONNER
cial. labor and transportation combina-
tons, and in no way to express any official
opinion of this commission
The subcommission will select their rep
resentative some time during the week.
The special committee thus appointed will
leave for Chicago Monday next, and will
not return until the Monday following
AS Prof. jerks Is to accompany 1t the TAX
ing of trust testimony by the commission
will be suspended next week, and may not
possibly be resumed until the opening Of
the October meeting.
Agricultural Condition in the West.
Senator Kyle, the chairman of the COM
mission, desires that the subcommission on
agriculture or the commission itself should
begin about the middle of the month an in
quiry at San Francisco into conditions on
the Pacific slope. which are unique.
Governor Harris presented the suggestion
to the commission yesterday, and the COM
mission decided that 1t Is not yet prepared
to enter upon that branch 81 it's inquiry.
The commission may conduct that investi-
cation through a special agent, and Mr..
Edward F. Adams of the San Francisco
Chronicle is already in the eye Of the COM
mission as the possible director of the
work.