The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-02
STANDARDS RATES
CRUSHING RIY AIS
INDEPENDENT OIL MEN STATE
CASE TO r. r. COMMISSION.
Railroad Attorneys Appear to Oppose
Request for Reduction in the Rates
on Oil in Barrels, Which Would Put
Small Dealers Nearer an Equal Footing
s with the Trust.

A great discrepancy in the rate Sc
cured by the Standard Oil company for
distribution of it's products thru Min
nesota and that which independent oil
companies have to pay was shown at
the opening Of the hearing before the
state railroad commission today OF the
complaint by the independent oil men.
Present were representatives of all
the independent oil companies of Min
neapolis and ST. Paul and the attorneys
of practically all the railroads carry
ing oil in Minnesota.
The time was entirely occupied with
an examination of Joseph Bartles Of
the Bartles Oil company. E. }. Can
non, attorney for the independent ship.
the time, then turned him over to the
railroad attorneys for a cross.examina-
ton. Bartles proved a good witness
for the independent men, but was retl-
! cent in his answers to the railroad at
| torneys. .
The independent oil companies de-
sire to have oil IN barrels reduced 5ac IRON ron
| Standard Oil company, shipping by
tank cars almost entirely, is able to
secure fifth-class rates-about SO per
| cent less than the rate demanded of
the Independent companies.
Rate to Wadena Cited.
The discussion conferred around facts
disclosed as to the comparative cost OF
shipments to Wadena. The Standard
company admittedly can ship tank
. car from Minneapolis to Wadena for
$74.55. This tank car contains l2O
| barrels. The independent companies,
doing smaller volume of business,
have to ship in barrels. One hundred
and twenty barrels will fill two cars,
and with $21.20, the cost of returning
the barrels, brings the expense OF the
shipment to Wadena to the independent
dealers at third rate. to $1,000.
What an advantage the STANDARD! Oh
company gets over it's small competitors
Lis hes trealized in considering the ag
gregate amount, Of oil business eSE trans
mony of Mr.. Bartles was that Harry
Barrows, deputy state oil commissioner
under the Fred Schiffmann regime, hat
told him it amounted to 27,50O 900 gal
Ions. It Minneapolis and St. Paul Il
was 100000, and the rest was outside
the two large cities.
Mr.. Bartels stated that the oil in bar
rels did not receive the same care a!
other freight; that station agents. hae
orders to keep it on platforms and mo-
place it in depots. = .~..~.%
Several of the railroad attorneys the1
took up the cross-examination. -
(which do you consider the NOR!
hazardous, oil in, barrels or in tani
cars?' asked Mr.. Root, attorney. TO-
the Milwaukee.
. "Oil in. tank cars unquestionably, :
| replied Bartles.
Mr.. Root then got the witness to ad
| nit that in carrying insurance ever,
: policy said gasolene and oils could no
be carried on his property in exees
of certain number of gallons, but tina
| in such goods as come under the fifth
! class freight, there was no restriction
snINow, did you mean what you sal
: Eabout Oil in tank cars being the NOR
3 Ehazardous? again queried Mr.. Root
, But the witness insisted on his orlglna
answer.
Mr.. Bartles testified it was impossi
BILE for his company to compete with tn
Standard Oil company; that his oil ha
to be sold at higher price and sold be
cause of it's quality; also that there wa
: only limited demand for such oils a
y his company could handle proftably: