The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-05
REFUSES TO PEACH
SChiffmann Declines to Expose
His Former Combine

Fred c. Schiffmann, former Repub-
lican state oil inspector, is in contempt
with the house committee on illuminat-
ing oils.
Mr.. Schiffmann was glibly detailing
the revenues of the office during the
two years, from 1900 to 1902, that he
was state oil inspector. He said that
the receipts of the office from state in
spection were approximately $31 900, but
he had paid in salaries and fees TO his
deputies and Office expenses all but
$4,000.
But I did not get all this money"
the former inspector said, lit was di-
vided among the other members of the
oil board, with the exigencies of the
campaign naturally kept in sight.
was not an applicant for the office, but
the appointing power believed that 1
would divide more evenly than some of
the men who were applicants for the
job. My colleagues attested their faith
in me by never Directing to the man.
ner in which 1 divided the pelf"
Schiffmann was answering a list of
questions being asked by G. w.
Thompson, a member of the committee,
and said to have been prepared by the
former state oil inspector. Suddenly
Edward Tanning, a member of the
committee, interrupted, claiming that
the questions were not pertinent to the
inquiry being conducted by the COM
mittee. Chairman Hickey, however,
permitted the hearing to continue,
when Mr.. Thompson said he had but a
few more questions to- ask: Then Mr.
Hickey took a hand in the question
ing of Mr.. Schiffmann.
WHO are the members Of this board
that you have referred to so frequently
in your testimony" he asked.
Schiffmann hesitated for a moment,
and then he said: THAT is not my Sc
cret; it is a political secret; it is a part
of the system, and because 1 believe it
immaterial and foreign to the purpose
Of this investigation 1 must refuse to
answer it,
Does this committee understand YOU
to say that you refuse to explain your
testimony, given here under oath?r Mr..
Hickey asked. Schiffmann persisted in
his refusal 1t is not known what re-
lief lies in the hands of the commit
tee, but if pressed ii is believed that
the former oil inspector is in the same
position as a man who refuses to an
swer questions put to him by a court
when under oath.
Henry Teagle, secretary of the Gil
max Oil Refining company, and John
III. Hull, secretary of the Cornplanter
Oil company, both of st. Paul, both
testified that the enforcement of a
o-''Ns 80 A0i oii III Nh1hlSSObd NOulu
mean an increase in the price of the
commodity of cent or more a gallon
Mr.. Teagle said that that the good
quality of Illuminating oil is not de-
termined by its gravity test; that the
| proof was in the burning. Mr.. Hull
| said that gravity test would mean a
hardship on the poor people of the
state, for refiners would be forced by
| conditions to charge more for their oil
Both men represented IndeDendent
| companies. A subcommittee consist
| ing of James r. Hickey, Edward Fan
| ming and j. B. Rosenthal, was named
| to prepare substitute for the Candle
rud and Oleson bills now before the
| committee. The subcommittee vii
report at an adjourned meeting of The
oils committee on Thursday afternoon