Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-22


Office of Charles Edgar Mills, sitting as
special commissioner, Attorney General
Monnett conducted his side of the case
and Messrs. Elliott and Kline appeared
for the company.
1t was expected that the State OF
Ohio would present representatives of
three or four important oil refneries
Of Ohio giving information as to the
alleged arbitrary methods OF the pipe
company. Before the proceedings open
ed Mr.. Monnett announced that he had
been unable to secure those witnesses,
and after a brief REORGANIZATION of
George Rice, he would close his case
for the time being. Mr.. Monnett ex-
planned that he was informed that
while the local courts could compel the
attendance of his witnesses they could
not punish them if they refused to tes-
tify.
The proceedings against the pipe
line company are to secure an annul-
ment of its charter on the grounds
that the company has violated the anti
trust law of Ohio and that in defiance
OF the courts it Is still a member OF
the Standard Oil Trust.
The purpose OF calling Mr. Rice to-
day was to allow him to testify id eoh-
tradiction to the statement made by
John d. Archbold that he had attempt
ed to blackmail the Standard Oil Co.
by demanding 100000 for bis oil pro-
perties which were worth about $4,000.
Mr.. Rice, replying to the Attorney
Generals invitation that he make a
statement, read from lengthy manu-
script:
ut is true" he said, chat in 1885, on
their solicitation, did submit propo-
sition to sell all OF my oil properties
not only my refinery. bat production az
well-for the sum stated"
Mr.. Rice quoted from the letters Oh
Mr.. Archbold, already published, to
show that the Stanard oil Company
had his proposition under considers
ton.
"The Standard Company, Mr.. Rice
said. "by its control of the railroads.
has raised the freight rates so that 1t
was impossible for him to carry on his
business.
I'm 1885," he said, "the Baltimore
and Ohio and their southwestern con-
nections raised their freight rates on
me from so to 162 per cent, and none
on the Standard Oil trust, which closed
up fourteen of my agencies out of
twenty-four in five months, and shut
me out of over half the towns in which
was doing business"
Replying to question by Mr.. Elliott,
Mr.. Rice gave the date of the occur
rences Of which he was complaining as
early in 1881 and 1882. He admitted
that the Buckeye Pipe Line Company
was not organized until 1885.
In concluding his statement Mr.. Rice
said he could prove that the Standard
Oil Company has secretly and Grimm
ally blackmailed the railroad Of this
country of millions Of dollars on re-
bates of freight.
When he had finished counsel for the
Pipe Line Company asked him If the pre-
pared statement he had read from did
not contain the same testimony he had
gwen in Columbus.
Mr.. Rice said that in substance 1T was
t.e same. lie said he was testifying in
the present proceedings because he want
cd an opportunity for contradiction Of
the false and malicious statements made
by John d. Archboid."
Is 1t not fact?' asked Mr. Kline,
that In 1880 you sent to the Standard OF
Company through Mr.. Owls, an offer to
accept 5000 for all your OF properties.
agreeing that II the offer were accepted
to abate Etigation?"
''Yes, I guess / did"
Mr.. Rices testimony to the same effect
given at the hearing in Columbus was
read to him. and be said It was correct.
Replying 70 Mr.. Kline. Mr.. Rice said
that IN 1879 he offered 70 sell his refinery
to ex-senator Campbell for 1900. That
offer did not include any Of mis- oil proper
ties. When he offered to sell his property
later it included two hundred acres II
oil land, a production Of two hundred bar
rels Of oil day and quantity Of expen-
sive machinery.
Mr. Monnett asked counsel X they OBJ
jected to producing officers Of the BucLs-
eye Company to testify. and &r Klins
replied that he rad nothing 10 say on that
subject The attorney general, ne said.
had power to compel the attendance Of
witnesses.
Mr. Monnett replied that he knew hs
could get the witnesses, but as ne could
not compel them 20 testify In the Stats
he had not appealed TO the courts
with this statement Mr.. Monnett De.
clared the proceedings closed for the tins
being. He viii leave for Ohio to-day.
when the original complaint was served
on the defendant company thirty tnterro-
gatories were attached to 1t. The com.
pany entered a demurrer TO the fnterro-
eatories. II the courts decided the oties-
lions must be answered no further hear
ing will be necessary. Should the court
sustain the demurrer, the officers OF the
company will be summoned 10 testify fn
order that their refusal may SHOW IN
the minutes