The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-24
new HAVEN
ROADS OIL
RATES

Cleveland. O. Oct. 24-Memhers Rrnuty
and Fifer OF the Interstate IN
commission began a hearing here yester-
day In connection with the complaint OF
unjust discrimination in rates fled by w.
r. Wall, president OF Fred @. Clark OH
company, against the New York. New
Haven ami Hartford railroad.
The Clark oil company is said to be
the largest producer OF lubricating oils
in existence outside OF the Standard oil
company. The complaint was filed sew
eral months ago and the burden OF II is
that It is impossible for the oil company
20 secure through rates to New England
points on any products which come into
competition with the Standard oil com
pany.
The contention OF the railroad company
Is that IL could not grant rates because
OF the combustible nature OF the oil COM
pany's products.
To offset this allegation the oil com
pany introduced an analytical chemist NJ
the hearing yesterday and he testified that
the products In question were not as com
bustible as vegetable and lard oil produce,
or which through rates were obtained
without difficulty.
President Wall made a statement set
ting forth the oil c%ompany's troubles In
detail. He stated hat the company's
vegetable and lard oil products did not
compeie with the Standard
II is expected that the findings OF the
commission In the case are 10 he for
warded 10 President Roosevelt. who may
use the data In connection with his forth
coming annual message to congress.
TO BLOCK COMPETITION.
II. II. wilcox OF the waverly OIL com
pany furnished additional evidence TO the
commissioner yesterday afternoon. He
stated that he was positive that his com
pany could flourish in the Connecticut dis
tricts were II allowed a pro rata rate.
He testified that the division frelgh
agents Of the Pennsylvania Railroad COM
pany. AT Pittsburg, would not furnish a
through rate and would never furnish
Information as 10 why the pro rata rate
will not be extended TO them. Mr.. VIII
lock explained that in many instances
he had 10 wait so long far rates from divi-
sion freight agents at Pittsburg that the
business 81 New England was lost.
Because OF the inability 10 get informa-
fion on the tariffs. Mr. Wilcox said. that
his company had even stopped talking
about the matter TO the railroad com
panies.
The companies. he declared. do not
specify rates 20 New England points. but
when goods were shipped the tariff
charges were so excessive as 10 effectually
check and competition with the Standard
oil company. There had been. he said,
no change I'm this condition for years.
MIR. wilcox stated hat FOR many years
he got a rate Of lOls cents on oil via the
Pennsylvania road TO Philadelphia and
from there TO New England points by way
OF a steamship company, and was noti-
ned suddenly that this rate was n mis-
take. lie also said that the Boston and
Philadelphia Steamship company Is will
ing 10 pro rata.
Mr.. wilcox further testified that. In hts
opinion. the Standard OH company could
pipe aud refine oil from it, tanks on the
Atlantic seaboard into the N~w England
territory az from half 90 three-fourths
rents profit over that which the independ-
ent concerns realize were they given the
advantage OF a pro rata from the points
OF shipment 20 destination.