The times., 1899-09-12
REBATES ON KEROSENE
Railroads Accused of Discriminate
ing Against Shippers.
Former State Senator Emery, of
Bradford. Pm, Testifies Before the
lean OIL Sells Lower in Germany
Than 1t Does in This Country.

The session of the Industrial Commits
sion was taken up yesterday in listening
to the testimony of former State Senator
Lewis Emery, jr., of Bradford, Pa Mr..
Emery owns, according to his statement
made before the Commission, the largest
oil refinery in this country that is inde-
pendent Of the Standard Oil Company, and
his testimony was particularly directed
against the business methods of the latter
corporation.
Mr.. Boyle, the editor of the "On City
Derrick who testified before the Com
mission on behalf of the Standard Oil peo-
pie last week, was in attendance yesterday.
Several representatives of the independent
oil people were also present, including
former State Senator Lee, of Oil City, Pa,
and George Rice, of Ohio. The testimony
yesterday, however, was devoid of any ex-
citing incidents Mr. Emery, it is said,
intends to go into the question very ex-
haustiveIy. AT the outset he began the
reading Of a book of over $50 pages, which
he had prepared especially for this occa-
sion. The book is entitled Lewis Emery,
jr., to the Industrial Commission. Part of
his experience of thirty-four years as pro-
ducer, refiner. and transporter of OIL What
he has to say about the Standard Oil Trust,
and its influence on the production, re-
fining, and transportation of oil"
On account of the many Interruptions
which occurred. in the way Of questions by
the different Commissioners, the reading
had not progressed very far at the con-
clusion of the day. He declared that it
was impossible for him to market his oil
in this country on account of the competi-
tive methods of the Standard Oil Company.
He said that the largest venture he had
INDUCED in in this way. was in Philadel-
I phia. He had established himself there
and put wagons on the road, but after
losing over $50 600 concluded that he had
enough and quit
Speaking of the liberal charters under
which many of the companies of the Stan
dard Oil concerns are organized he said
that the National Transit Company and
the old Southern Improvement Company
were entitled TO DO anything under the sun
except manufacture money. Mr.. Emery
gave the following figures as 10 the con-
sumption of illuminating oil in the year
1897: Germany, 6,000,000 or 100000;
Great Britain, 5000. eco; France, 100000;
Norway and Sweden, 1900. .000; Denmark,
COO Geo barrels. The Standard furnished all
of this but 400 900 barrels. Russian oil,
said the witness, has the same difficulty in
fighting the Standard as the independent
companies in this country.
Mr.. Emery declared that be could do no
business in this country. Seventy per cent
of his business was done in Europe. Ger
many had made regulations whereby COM
petition was not so great.
4 can do no business in this country,
said Mr.. Emery. II can't ship oil to Ell
mira, N Y, which is only 100 miles from
my refinery. / cannot ship oil 10 the
Mississippi River but the Standard Oil
Company has not been able yet to shut lp
the Atlantic Ocean" Mr.. Emery said that
oil sold 25 per cent cheaper in Germany
than in this country. The whole question,
the witness said. was one OF railroad dis
elimination. If the railroads in this coun-
try we're compelled TO live up TO the In
terstate Commerce law, l would ask no
odds Of anyone in doing business in this
country"
This led TO the question whether the wit
ness could cite any cases in which re-
bates had been paid since the passage OF
the Interstate Commerce law. He said
he could. and produced evidence taken in
a suit brought by his firm against the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1890.
In giving a summary of this testimony
Mr.. Emery said that President Roberts. oi
the Pennsylvania Railroad testified that
1888 General Freight Agent Wilson testi-
fed to the same while Auditor Taylor and
Bookkeeper Thayer testified that they had
been paid. This case dragged along until
two years later, when the road was COM
/ PEELED TO bring its books into court. Al
this time the suit was compromised by Mr.
Emery's company being paid $4,000 and
relieved of the costs of the suit After this
q large number of suits were brought by
different manufacturing companies.
Claims were filed for rebates allowed VI
! 10 1893, and the Commission found then
good and assessed the railroads SS6,OO0
! The railroads refused to pay and the case
| is now pending before the United States
| Circuit Court at Pittsburg.
Mr. Emery read a letter on file with
/ the Interstate Commerce Commission from
/ the receivers of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. dated December o. 1885, stating
1 that after January J. 1899, they should
comply with the published schedule oi
rates on file with the Commission. This
4 was a practical admission, said the witness
that determinations had been made. Mr.
Emery had not finished his testimony a.
; o'clock, when the Commission adjourned