Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-11
BLAMES THE RAILROADS
Responsible for Existence of the Standard
Oil Trust.
Ex-State Senator Emery of Pennsyl-
vania Before the Industrial
COmmi ssiOn,

Ex-State Senator Lewis Emery, jr., of
Pennsylvania, one Of the Oldest producers
and refiners of oil in this country ap-
peared before the industrial commission to-
day. Mr.. Emery generally regarded
as an anti-Standard Oil witness
Mr.. Emery said he had no luminosity
against any Of the men in the Standard
Oil Company. but his methods of business
were different from their methods He was
stockholder in the United States Pine
Line Company, the Pure Oil Company and
the Producers Oil Company, limited, but
had no connection with the Standard Oil
Company.
The witness recounted the history Of the
Oil Industry in this country and of the
growth OF the system of Transporting oil
through pipes. The piping system was in
troduceo IN 1865 and rapidly grew in ia
NOr.
The Railroads Blamed.
1.-THE railroads Of this country" said Mr..
Emery, ARE responsible today for the ex-
| istence Of this trust 0he Standard OLD. be-
cause they gave these shippers drawbacks
and rebates until finally the Standard Oil
Company got this business into its own
hands. L will further say that discrimina-
tons have been made UP almost to the
present time, In spite of the denials that
have been made here. I have the power to
prove it through sworn evidence which
shows it,
The witness read the contract of 1872 be-
tween the railroads and the South I'M
proNement Company, and although that
contract has been annulled, he was sure
It's provisions are still being carried out
ms contract provided that the railroad
companies should report to the South I'm
proNement Company the quantity of all oil
shipped over their lines, together with the
names or the shipper and man to whom it
was consigned.
The charter of the South Improvement
company was repealed, but the National
transit Company, which is the big ship
ping concern Of the Standard Oil Com
pany, has bought charters of other COM
panieS and is now able to secure from the
railroads the same kind of reports that
were made to the South Improvement
Company. He instanced case, which oc-
CURED about a year ago, in which he said
he had absolute proof that such reports
were then made so that every secret of his
business promptly gets into the hands of
the Standard Oil Company. He was salts
fled that such are constantly being made
today.
Experience of Independent Companies
Mr.. Emery recounted the experience of
the independent oil companies in Germany,
where he spent three years, from 1894 to
1896 inclusive. in handling the oil of these
Independent companies in competition with
the Standard Oil There was no railroad
discrimination in Germany. Every one
must trade fairly, and in one case, when
the Standard was cutting rates In one To-
cality to the disadvantage of the indie
pendent companies, the matter was taken
to the German retchstag and relief was at
once received. He could not state that any
order was given in it, but they obtained
the relief they wanted.
The commission resumed its session at
2:15 o'clock, after hours recess, and
Mr. Emery continued his testimony.
Future Hearings.
The testimony of Mr.. Emery will con-
clude the testimony on trusts during the
present month. Mr.. Rockefeller was ex-
pected here during the present sittings of
the commission, but it is row likely that
he will appear in October.
During the latter part Of the present
week Mr.. T. V. Powderly and Mr.. Saul
Gompers will be heard. Mr.. Powderly was
formerly at the head of the Knights OF
Labor. Mr.. Gompers Is president of the
Federation of Labor