The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-12
SCORES THE RAILWAYS
MIR. EMERY SAYS THEY FAVORED
THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY.
He Also Says the German Government
Is One of the Best on Earth Because
cit Protects All Its Citizens"

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11.-State Senator
Lewis Emery. jr-. Of Pennsylvania, was be-
fore the industrial commission to-day. He
spoke in opposition to the Standard Oil Com
pany. He claimed that the railroads were
responsible for the great growth of the
Standard Oil Company and said that the
contract made between the South Improve
ment Company and the railroads in 1872 was
practically in effect to-day. Under this ar
rangement there had been determinations
on the part of the roads in favor OF the
Standard Company up to the present day.
Mr.. Emery cited a case tried In $780, in
which Determinations by the pennsylvania
road were charged in favor of the Standard
Oil Company He said that while President
Roberts and the general freight agent OF
the railroad company had both denied that
rebates were given. the auditor and some
of the bookkeepers had sworn discrimna-
tions were given amounting to from TO
% cents a barrel. He was however, so
harassed after three years effort that ne
compromised his claim of 100000 for $4,000.
He also said he knew of instances In which
rebates had been paid as late as 1893 and
that complaint had been made to the Inter-
state-commerce Commission, which had
rendered its decision against the railroads
for $4,000. Mr.. Emery claimed to have been
twice driven to the wall by the combination
of the railroads and the Standard Company
against him. He claimed that the Standard
Company had inherited all the privileges OF
the old South Improvement Company, and
read the contract between that company and
the railroad organizations to prove that II
provided explicitly for rebates he also
read letter addressed by the receivers OF
the Baltimore K Ohio Railroad 10 the inter
state-commerce Commission admitting, MI.
Emery claimed, that rebates had been given
up to January, 1889.
efforts to secure, a footing for the product
of the independent companies in Germany.
In this connection Mr.. Emery eulogized the
German government as a model. III Is. ne
said, lone of the best governments on the
face of the earth. 1t protects all its citi-
zens. You get the right hand of Fellowship
there, but you don't get 1T here" He had
got the relief which he had sought In
Germany. while he had been praying for re-
lief in the United States since 1872. There
was no discrimination on either the rail-
roads or the canals in that country.
Mr.. Emery said that in connection with
his work in Europe he had co-operated with
Russian oil producers. consulting with the
prime minister of that country. Referring
to the Russian oil, Mr.. Emery said 1t was
not so good as the American product, but
being sold at a lower price, 1t was still a
competitor where sold -
Fhe witnessj contendedz that the Standard
Company does reduce prices for the purpose
of driving out competitors and said he could
bring stock of proof to show that this was
the custom to the present day ,,.t He also
ing the utmost efforts to prevent legislation
and of preventing the making of appropria-
tions to carry such laws into effect when
made.
Mr. Emery was still on the stand when
the commission adjourned for the day.