The times., 1899-11-12

George Rice. whose proposed testimony /
created such a sensation among the mem I
bers Of the Industrial Commission on Fri {
dav was allowed yesterday to go on the /
witness stand before that body. His Jes- (
timony consumed the entire day, the Com
mission remaining in session until nearly
o'clock in order to hear him to the con-
clusion.
In view Of what was known Of Mr..
Rica's proposed testimony, the Commis-
sion convened half hour before the regu-
lar time yesterday morning. and prepared
and adopted the following preamble and
resolution:
For the reason that Mr. George Rice. wit
ness 10 come before the Commission this dal'
has printed, published. and copyrighted certain
TESTIMONY IN pamphlet form. thereby leaving the
impression that said testimony nad been sworn
10 and authorized therefore te d
Resolved. That We refuse 10 receive sllo teH't-
rn0uv as published. and that Mr. Rice proceed
after being Sworn. To give lIs testimony under
The rules established by this Commission.
Mr.. Rice was then summoned before the
Commission. sworn, and formally put on
the witness stand. His testimony was
contained in a pamphlet OF over seventy
five pages, and as he proceeded he sub
mitted letters, kilograms, records Of court
cases. and testimony in previous inyezti-
cations which, If printed together with his
original testimony. would more than dou-
bic its volume.
He reviewed the history Of the Standard
OIL Company from its inception He
charged the representatives OF the com
pany with practically all the dishonorable
methods known TO the business world IN
carrying out their undertaking 10 control
the oil industry Of the country 7 heir
principal weapon in this direction was the
use of the railroads. he brought many
records 10 show that they obtained special
rates from nearly all the roads OF the
country, and not only this, but that they
were instrumental in having enormously
excessive rates charged to independent oil
companies.
Mr.. Rice declared that he had been per
sonally bounded and prosecuted by Stand
ard Oil people. He charged Mr. Boyle Of
the "On City Derrick, who was present,
with constantly making attacks on ms
character. But" he remarked, i tnink
/ stand as well before the people as does
Mr.. BOYLE" He said that the whole diff
Guilty lay in the power on the part OF the
Oil Trust people 10 obtain discriminating
railroad rates With this evil done away
with. he was sure gigantic monopolies
could not be maintained He believed the
present laws regulating commerce were
ample 10 stop all such discrimination, and
that the Interstate Commerce Commission
had ample power TO control the whole
matter That such control was not effect
ed. he laid at the feet Of the Government
officials
He had proceeded in cases before the
Interstate Commerce Commission long
enough. he said. 10 become thoroughly dis
Eustei with its methods Of procedure, and
had become thoroughly convinced that thf
only way left for the American people L
rid themselves Of the monstrous monopo-
lies which had sprung up within recen
years. and which controlled the commerct
Of the country absolutely, was for the Gov
erument 70 own the railroads. In such al
event. be advocated disfranchsing all rail
way employees This. he believed would
take the administration Of the railroads oU
Of politics. The witness Was rIdiculed j
This by members Of the Commission, bu
persisted in his belief that il was the Onl
sure way out Of the present difficulty.
In concluding his testimony, Mr. Ric
referred particularly 10 the charges mad
against him by Mt Archbold, one Of th
Vice Presidents Of the Standard oil Com
pany, IL his testimony before the CommIs
sion I'm which he characterized Mr.. Rice q
uuprincipled and determined 10 make trOu
be for the company because he could X
sell his plant TO them al an enoTmoU
figure Nr Rice said that, after proving
as he had done, that the Oil Trust ha
dominated. and was at present hagrantl
violating the laws Of the land in order
freeze out all independent enterprise in Il
oil industry, the charge against him nesdf
10 further comment, As a matter Of fac
however. be wanted to state, he said, thi
the price he had asked for his business VI
not an ex0rbitant one.
THa witness wanted n iruurcec II
Commission. he said that, notwithstaudir
the testimony Of Oil Trust witnesses, Il
Standard Oil Trust is still in eEistenc
Il was just as powerful as ever, and Il
methods employed by it were just as q
farious.
The following are extracts from n
RiCe's printed testimony:
standard oil History.
"For the first ten years Of the Standa
Oil Trust, 1852 to 1892 it paid out in dix
dends more than double its entire capita
ization in 1888. Since their pretencs OF
dissolution. March 2l 1882, and includi
September dividends, 1885 they have p'
thirty quarterly dividends of 3 per ce
OF 80 per cent, and paid Il per cent
specials none paid previous TO Decemb
1880. or a total Of 167 per cent, and OF
capitalization OF only sI02 233, 700 amoul
to the sum Of sl7O, ,730.27g.
THE Standard Oil Trust dictates 20
railway lines the compulsory tariff ra
on petroleum its competitors must 3
while its own is carried At nominal hgur
as was fully proven IN my own eXperiel
when in business
The origin Of the Standard oil TT
was the Standard Oil Company, Of on
which was organized January TO- 1870, "
q capitalization Of 100000, increased
81, 500 COO March %, 1875, al which it L
stands January 2, 1872 was the advent
the Standard oil monopoly by the direct
OF the Standard Oh Company Of Ohio,
gauizlug q fictitious corporation called
South Improvement Company" with
nominal capital Of S200, ,000 whose sole
and object was 10 make secret rebate C
tracts with the railroads as subseQuer
will be shown and was exposed in 1879
The Hepburn investigating committee
New York, and fortunate II was that u
contracts happen 10 be in writing, and
now upon the records TO condemn
makers OF them from time TO eternity
seems incredible that men could have
found Of sufficient boldness and sna
lessuess TO have executed such q glga
conspiracy. against the inallenable III
Of their fellow men, by means Of which
Standard Oil Company received the gros
freight Determinations ia the form OF
bates, not only upon its own shipme
but also a like amount on the shipm
OF its competitors. These rebates raI
from 40 cents 20 $l.06 per barrel on G.
petroleum, and from 50 cents TO Sl.32
barrel on refined ~
81 4 A H.