The evening times., 1899-06-10
SEEN AND HEARD IN HOTELS.

Theodore D. Westgate, of Titusville, Pa,
a prominent oil refiner. who testified be-
fore the Industrial Commission yesterday,
is staying at the Shoreham. Mr.. West
gate said last night in conversation re-
| garding the success of the independent
refiners, despite the competition of the
Standard Oil Company: I'VE are stronger
| and more vigorous now than we have ever
| been before. 1t was undoubtedly believed
by the Standard Oil people when they
bought out many of the rehneries four
years ago that they had put an end to all
| active competition, and that the remaining
| independent concerns would soon come to
| terms or go to the wall. As a matter OF
| fact. the independent people have an ag-
gregate capital OF from $5,000.000 to $i,-
100000. a much larger amount than they
had before. and are doing a paying busi-
ness all the time. Many oil producers
with money who were independent AMI be-
lieved in continuing have aided the refin-
ers by investing in their plants"
Mr.. Westgate disavowed any intention
| to criticise combinations of capital as such.
Il believe in combinations, or trusts or
whatever you may choose to name them il
they are run on legitimate lines of fair
competition he said. THE Standard Oil
people. however. do nothing of the kind.
They employ spies, keep people on their
pay rolls who receive large sums of mon
ey for simply keeping quiet, obtain influ
ence over the railroads, to Obstruct their
| rivals, and employ a hundred other act
ually dishonest methods that will not bear
the light of day" In speaking Of the ar
gument Of the sympathizers with the
Standard Oil Trust. that the trust has re-
duced the price of oil to the consumers,
Mr.. Westgate said: This is undoubtedly
true to limited extent, and in SO far as
It's work has been legitimate, no fault
should be found with it, The trust en-
pioys the best men in the business and
uses the most improved methods and saves
much money in its legitimate concentra-
tion OF business. All these things the in
dependent refiners do also. however, and
they also produce oil cheaply AS a prac-
tical illustration Of the spirit of the trust
regarding prices / may state the fact, how
ever, that whenever an Independent refin-
er has been driven out of a city by prices
blow cost. there is always an immediate
advance in price afterward to double ,be
Old rate SO that the consumer has 10 pay
and more than pay the truts in the end"
Former Representative Wallace T. Foote
OF New York. famous as the handsom est
man in the House during his terms, is at
the Shoreham.
W. Teplow. Consul General Of Russia at
New York. and T. C. Charpentier. Of the
French Embassy, are at the Shoreham
George w. Gait. of the New York Dredg-
ing Company, and J. McMullen, of the San
Francisco Dock Company. combined con-
Germs which will put in bid for the dry
dock at Mare Island. Cal, are at the Raj
eigh. The concerns have just completed
the building of a seven-mile canal at Sa-
bine Pass. Tex. for the Kansas City. Pitts
burg and Gulf Railroad which has attract
ed much attention in the railroad world
on account OF its great Importance to west
ern freight rates. In discussing the canal
last night. Mr.. Gait said: The improve
ment makes it possible for the road TO car |
ry freight direct to its largest gulf steam |
ers. which will come up the canal to re- |
ceive it. This advantage will give It the |
best facilities for giving cheap rates from |
its interior points throughout the West to |
the gulf and to Europe. 1t is believed that |
it will be able to secure a very large part |
of the freight business of the West. 1t will |
be able to give cheap rates on grain, and |
it will also have very large business in
lumber from Western Louisiana for the
West Indies and Europe. The road will
be most powerful competitor
-, a.,