The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-17
hQNN[II Strikes
At The OIL TRUST.
Gives Testimony Before the
Industrial Commission.
IMMENSE PROFITS MADE.
All Above -Four Cents q Gallon
Said to Be Clear Gain.
Can De Declared at VIII.
~ the Standard Company Ahso-
lutely Controls the Retail Price
-RockefelleP the One-Man Power
PLANT Has IncreaseA Five Times
Its Original Value Of @07 500, ,OOO-
States should Deprive Railroad
COnpmnies of Charters If Ksees-
cary to Enforce Fair Treatment.

WARRINGTON. May 16.-Attorney Gen.
erai Frank 9. Monnett. OF Ohio, was before
the Industrial commission today as . Wit
ness In the trust investigation. His testi-
mcny related almost exclusively to the
Standard OIL trust. against which he has
been proceeding In his official capacity In
Ohio. After detailing the particulars Of the
suits against the Standard company.
brought on behalf Of the state Of Ohio. Mr..
Monnett said the companies comprising
the trust were 10 distributed ~ to control
ell the operations pertaining to production.
transportation. refining and delivery Of the
products OF the oil wells In Ohio. including
even its own telegraph system. Referring
70 this telegraph line. Mr.. 1snnett sAid =
had been developed 70 that It was exchAng-
ing business with the westesn Union Com
pany, acting as commercial carrier and
making . cheaper rate to the constituent
members Of the trust than - oehee Gus
toners. functions which were outside the
corporate authority Of the trust. He also
complained OF the discrimination IN rail-
road rates IN favor OF the Standard CON-
pany's tank limos, saying It was equal TO
90 per cent. against the ordinary citizen.
HAS N Absolute Monopoly.
Mr.. Monnett gave the figures showing
that the capitalization OF ths companies
comprising the srust amounted In the AZ
gregate to 3io7 3ss CO. the valuation tl3i, $751;,
0oo. He said the trust could make its divi-
iends whatever II desired. ~ II controlled
completely the retail price OF OIL
Mr. Monnett told Of the distribution a the
stock Of the trust. saying that the srus-
tees held - 40 OF the 7oo,0oo shares. ana
that John d. Rockefeller. an chairman Of
the trustees, held a majority OF the stock
thus distributed. giving him the balance
Of power, making practically one-man
power.
Mr. Monness said the ortginai value OF the
plant OF the trust was ae7 80. 600. but this
figure should now be multiplied by fve.
The attorney general Of New Jersey
could secure evidence Of this diacrimina-
ton within sixty days II he would take II
In hand the witness said.
Speaking OF the earnings Of the oil trust.
Mr. Monnett admitted tho gross receipts
were 3iD,ee coo year on the ohio product
alone and he said that all was prens over
4 cents a gallon on refined OIL He placed
the value Of the earnings Of the COM
pany per year an greater than the value
of ali the farm products Of The STATE.
Its .nsssards. Everywhere.
At the asterncon session OF the commits
sion Mr.. Monnest said In response 10 .
question from Commissioner Kennedy that
he ala not wish 20 enter upon discussion
of the charge that the Standard OIL Com
pany had been guilty Of attempts OF hrib-
cry 10 prevent iudcsa. investigation. as
that uiafter was at present under 'nvesstga
ton by the Ohio supreme court. These
proceedings doubtless womiA bring out all
the facts and later he would supply the
data 10 the commission He could. how
ever testify 10 the fact that ths eomrany
had secured The service OF railroad agents
all over the country 10 rsport upon the !.
movements Of their rfvuIs. and he knew az