The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-12

Washington, Sept. u.-State Senator
: Lewis Emery, jr.. of Pennsylvania, was
before the Industrial commission to-
day. He spoke in opposition 10 the
/ Standard Oil company. He claimed that
{ the railroads were responsible for the
/ great growth of the Standard Oil COM
pany and said that the contract be-
/ tween the South Improvement and the
railroads in 1872 was practically in ef-
feet today. Under this arrangement
there has been discrimination on the
part of the roads in favor of the Stand
ard company up to the present day.
Mr.. Emery cited case tried in 1890
in which discrimination by the Penn
sylvania railroad were charged in favor
of the Standard Oil company. He said
that while President Roberts and the
general freight agent of the company
had both denied that rates were given,
the auditor and some of the boOkkeep-
ers had sworn that determinations
We're given amounting to from to .
cents a barrel. He was, however. sc
harassed afte~ three years effort that
he compromised his claim of S107. 900 for
SIS, 00O.
He also said he knew Of instances in
which rebates had been presented as
late as 1898 and that complaint had
been made to the interstate commerce
commission which had rendered its de-
cision against the railroads for $4,000
Forced to the Wall
Mr.. Emery claimed to have beer
twice driven to the wall by the COM
oination of the railroads and the Stand
ard company against him. He claimed
that the Standard company had inner
tied all the privileges of the old South
Improvement company and read the
contract between the company and the
provided explicitly for rebates He also
read q letter addressed by the receiv-
ers Of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad to
the interstate commission, adding, Mr.
Emery claimed, that rebates had been
given up to January, 1899. Mr.. Emery
gave a detailed history of his efforts
to secure a footing for the product
of the Independent companies in Ger
many. In this connection Mr.. Emery
eulogized the German government as
model.
1T is he said. zone Of the best gov
errments on the face Of the earth. 1t
protects all its citizens. You get the
right hand of fellowship there, but you
don't get it here.
Protection In Germany.
He had gotten the relief which he had
sought in Germany while he had been
praying for relief in the United States
since lSiZ- lEele WAS 10 DISQUALIFICATION
on either the railroads or the canals in
that country. Mr.. Emery said that in
connection with his work in Europe, he
had co-Operated with Russian oil pro-
ducers consulting with the prime min
lister of that country.
Referring to the Russian oil. Mr..
Emery said it was not so good as the
American product but, being sold at 2
lower price ii was still competitor
where sold.
The witness contended that the
Standard Oil company does reduce
prices for the purpose of driving out
competition. and said he could bring
a stack of proofs to show that this was
the custom to the present day. He also
charged the Standard company with
exerting the utmost efforts TO prevent
legislation and of preventing the max
ing of appropriations to carry such
laws into effect when made.
Mr.. Emery was still on the stand
when the commission adjourned for the
day.