The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-13


This was the additional chain in the
testimony and probative fact that con-
victs the Rockefeller system OF rall-
roads in the first week of the investi-
cation.
To Help the Standard.
Mr. Smith demonstrated further
that this was done by the railroad IN
the interest of the Standard OH COM
binat ton to enhance the cost price OF
crude oil in the hands of the lnde-
pendent producer and to compel thells
to ask more for their oil by reason OF
these impositions of freight rates so
as to more easily permit the Standard
Oil company. through its operators 70
break up the Independents and force
them to sell their leases and property
tinued four hours narrating instances
of this method of interfering with the
normal commercial conditions in this
territory. When he made complaint
to the local agents he was informed
that the traffic managers of the Santa
Fe and Missouri Pacific and Missouri,
Kansas & Texas fixed the methods of
billing, inspection ind rates. and that
give him no relief, unless indeed the
rate would be still in excess of this
prohibitory rate already given.
Samuel Rabinovitz, young busi-
ness man from Marietta, o., repre-
senting the American Iron and Supply
company gave a series of impositions
by the same railroad practiced upon
his company in holding up freight
shipped from Marietta to IndepeEG-
ence and Chanute, Kan, and points
in Oklahoma. He said that when his
goods reached the Mississippi river,
they were reweighed. and rebilled and
recIassified. in the trans Missouri dis
trict, where he had paid nineteen and
one-6fth cents per hundred pounds to
the Mississippi river, it was imme-
diaIely raised at the point of crossing
IN arr a
to Independence. He said that the re-
Weighing was not done actually, but
by estimate. and the Rockefeller
roads would add as high as 1000
pounds to a car over and above the
Pittsburg and Marietta weight He
gave many instances of this class of
determinations against him in ship
ping oil well supplies There is one
class of work in tempering the drills
at their factory at Independence
which requires the use of Connells-
Pennsylvania at the nearest point
where he could obtain it, SO ton.
The railroads charged him from Sc tn
81 freight A ton He said that their
cars We're stopped by the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe at Kansas CITY
broken into material examined. re-
classified and a special rate and
classification put upon these COM
modities.
Many other Instances.
Walter Boviard gave a long list of
similar instances and furnished the
way bills.
It was developed in the testimony
that the Standard Oil people have
their own private wire, many of the
officers carry franks. and one Standard
Oil man who had the means of know
ing, gave to Mr. J. NJ Parker of this
place last night the details of the
manner in which the Santa Fe rail-
way and the Missouri Pacific furnished
mileage books to their employees over
these roads. and the Gould-Rocke-
fe1ler system. and the same is charged
IDon the hooks of the rail- Oad COM
pany. and afterwards cancelled ny a
system of bookkeeping, which in ef-
army of officers and oil men in the
trans Missouri belt.
Banks Are Involved.
An independent producers. whose
name can be given if necessary. owns
with his brother sixty oil wells and
acquaintance of Henry Apthrope. the
Standard Oil lobbyist of Ohio, stat es
that recently he saw Apthrope in
Ohio. in Ashtabula county and heard
something Interesting Mr.. Apthrope
produced a transcript of the bank ac-
counts of various independent Ope-
rators of Independence and Chanute
and said that he had been assigned to
this territory, but had recently bean
through the Kansas oil field incognitC.
He made the remark. "Our company
hSeLS AliOIlnSu uiTecliS ROAl tHS
banks of the condition of their ac-
count and the amount of business they
are doing"
This system of espionage of the
Standard Oil will only add to the Bit
terness that is already smouldering to
the point of bursting into a flame or
popular insurrectiOn- The sentiment
in Kansas following the taking of this
testimony and the wide publicity that
the Kansas press is giving to this
commercial upheaval is similar to the
excitement and bitterness that existed
here in the days of the border, ruff
fanism. Even college professors and
ministers Of the gospel are joining in
the c-usad
STANDARD IS ENJOINED.