The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12
RAILROADS ARE ACCUSED
CHARGED WITH DISSEMINATING
AGAINST STANDARDS RIVALS.
Bitter Testimony by an Independent
Oil Producer-Senator Mason's Conn
mittee Investigates Beer.

WASHINGTON, Nov. u--George Rice. OF
Marietta, O.. who described himself as a
moderate producer OF OIL" was before the
industrial commission to-day. Mr.. Rice had
prepared in advance a statement setting
forth his views, which he had copyrighted
This copyrighted pamphlet the commission
refused to receive as such. but Mr.. Rice
was allowed TO proceed under the rules or
the commission, using the pamphlet as the
basis OF his statement. In his formal state
ment before the commission Mr.. Rice ac-
cused the railroad companies generally with
conspiring, in connection with the Standard
Oil Company, TO drive independent rehner-
les out of the field OF activity. He gave al
legged instances OF discrimination by the
railroads in favor of the Standard OIL Com
pany previous TO the passage OF the inter-
state-commerce law, and asserted that re-
bates were still given. Mr.. Rice asserted
that In one case. many years ago. dis
elimination OF leo per cent. had been made
for the Standard Company. and added that
rates on his products from Mari s M ~ 70
leo per cent, whereas, he said, no advance
was made in the rates OF the Standard
Replying to the statement of Mr.. John
D. Archibold, of the Standard OIL Com
pany. that his company had received no dis
state-commerce Jaw went into effect, Mr..
Rice gave numerous instances OF what ne
characterized determinations made In
the interest OF the Standard company since
that date. He made charges of such favor
itism against the Southern Pacific the
Union Pacific. the Cincinnati Washington
& Baltimore.s the Cincinnati New Orleans
& Texas Pacific, the Louisville & Nashville.
the Iron Mountain. the Missouri Paciiic and
other railroads, saying that these charges
had been proved by him before the Inter-
State-commerce Commission. Mr.. Rice SAID
he had become satisfied Of the inefficiency
of the Interstate-commerce Commission.
and had instituted no proceedings before II
since 1889. Speaking OF his personal ex-
rietta had been closed for the past three
years as a result of these Determinations.
II have" he said, been driven from pillar
to post, from one railway line TO another,
endeavor TO get equal and just freight rates
with the Standard OIL Trust so as 10 be able
TO run my refinery at anything approaching
a profit, but this have been utterly unable
TO do
He asserted that the Standard company
was represented in the dictatorship of rail-
mileage of the country. Mr.. Rice stated
his conclusion TO be that "our government
is failure because of the nonenforcement
Of our laws against this piratical crew
secret cover of unlawful rebates and COM
missions, and thus rob the people Of hum
| dreds Of millions of dollars" The respon-
general. He thought the government should
own the railroads, and that the protective
tariff should be removed from the articles
used by the trusts. In case of government
ownership ne would have the railroad en-
ployes disfranchised in order to take the
roads out OF politics. He thought the money
| recently spent in conducting useless for
profltably used in the purchase of the rail-
| roads.