Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-14
KEEPS TAR ON OIL WAGONS
Standard Company Employs Men to Watch
Delivery Of Competitors
OHIO MAN AN IMPORTANT WITNESS
VOrmer Agent OF RepubIic Company
Mt st. Joseph Tells of COnnec-
tion of Republic and Rock
efeIIer Interests.
OHIO MAN AN IMPORTANT WITNESS

KANSAS CITY. July 14.-The Standard
OIL hearing, which has been in progress
here three days, adjourned tonight to meet
next Monday IN st. Louis In that hearing.
which Will last two days, counsel for the
Standard. the Republic and the Waters
Pierce Oil companies, and the state at
torneyi general Herbert s. Hadley viii
argue motion made by Mr. Hadley last
Tuesday to require the respondents to pro-
duce in court certain books ana papers.
These books and papers the companies re-
fuse to produce. counsel say, basing such
refusal on. their constitutional rights.
After these points have been disposed of,
few witnesses from Joplin, NO. may DC
examined after which the commission will
adjourn for the summer.
w. IL Hawkins, who in 1890 was superln-
tendent of tank wagons for the Consoli-
dated Tank Line company and later for
the Standard Oil company, was the most
important witness of the afternoon session.
His duty. he said. was to keep tab" on the
business Of the independent companies.
Men were hired to follow the wagons OF
those cempanies." he said, ito see where
they stopped and see how much oil they
. Sold Whenever necessary to take trade
from our competitors rebates were paid by
, 49, 500 a MONTH"
The rebate system, he said. continued
from 1890 to 1896 within his knowledge. He
had list of 200 or $50 grocers in Kansas
City to whom rebates were paid.
j Status OF Republic or Company.
The giving of rebates az a common prac
tiee to secure business was brought out in
testimony OF A. G. Shires of Marion, o.,
travelling salesman for the Penn Refining
company of oil City. Pa, who was a WITT
ness at the hearing in the state suit to
oust the Standard OH company, the Re-
public OIL company and the Waters4Pierce
OIL company from the state of Missouri
Mr. shires was manager for the Republic
OIL company at st. Joseph, Mo-, from No
vember, 1901, to May, 1902, and came to
Kansas City in June as assistant manager
OF the Republic oil company. He found the
Standard and the National 1.-THE only com
panies here he said. He had charge Of the
tank business for the Republic, the lubri-
eating oil department and handled gasoline
and Kerosene for grocers. He was, he said
instructed to get after the Nationals Gus
toners Henry Teagle the manager. Mr..
shires said told him to get certain OF the
Nationals customers and II necessary nav
. rebate OF one-half cent a gallon. These
rebates were paid in cash to customers He
said he never had tried to get trade from
the Standards customers. The rebate APP
piled only to the NationaI's trade. Mr..
shires said he was told by Mr.. Teagie to
gay to customers that the Republic OIL
company was an independent concern.
Did you ever during your whole employ
ment here" inquired Attorney General
Hadley, '"offer any rebate or any induce
mehtto' customers to take their trade from,
the Standard OH eompanyv'
''No, sir; never 'Ef -r-
Where did you get the information re-
garding prices to charge for on?"
From the Standard OIL company al
ways"
How did you instruct your statesmen
herer'
To say that the Republic OH company
was an Independent company. handling the
PennsylY ania goods; that 1t had no connsc.
tion with the Standard Oil company and
was out for the business"
Mr.. shires said that when he was manager