The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1906-05-17
BRIBERY CHARGED.
Methods Of Standard Oil Company
Assailed Before Interstate Com
merce Commission.
FORMER employees TESTIFY.
Witnesses at the Chicago Hearing Tell of
Corruption Of Railroad Clerks and
Employees of independent Com
panies By Agents of Combine.

Employees ofIndependent Com
panies by Agents of Combine.
Chicago,--Startling revelations Of
the Standard Oil company's alleged
bribery of railroad employees in ordel
to learn secrets Of competitors ship
ments were brought, out before thu
interstate-commerce commission. II
was the beginning of what threatens
TO be al expose that will dwarf thu
most sensational Of magazine articles
and will flttingly supplement the re-
cent Garfield report To add spice
to the proceedings, the inquiry was
branded at the very outset by Attorney
John s. Miller, representing the
Rockefeller interests, as "mucF
rake investigation" J. T. Marchant
and F. s. Monnett are acting as spec
ial counsel for the government for the
ultimate purpose of securing legisla-
ton in line with the recommendations
made by the president. Mr.. Monnet'
as attorney general of Ohio dealt the
Standard some telling blows.
Commissioner Charles A. Prouty
Francis M. Cockrell and Alexander
Clements are hearing the testimony
which is to be given by witnesses
subpoenaed by the government from
the central western states.
Railroad officials, Independent oil
men, agents and former agents Of the
Standard Oil company have been sub
poenaed and the sessions Of the COM
mission, which are being held In one
of the courtrooms of the federal build
ing, will continue for several days.
The following are salient points
brought out in the testimony of the
first day:
That the Standard Oil company for
years maintained a system of bribing
railroad employees in order to obtain
information about the shipments by
competitors.
That in this system money was
used, regular monthly allowance be-
ing provided agents, and agents were
authorized to promise employment
with the Standard Oil company in re-
turn for information.
That this system was continued un-
til the officials Of the company feared
its publication might result in suffi-
cient public Indignation to bring about
action by congress and the state legis-
latures
That secret agents are employed to
watch oil shipments made by indie
pendents from the point Of shipment
until delivery and make complete re-
ports.
That agents in whose territory in
dependent oil is sold are held account
able for 1t and in many cases COM
PEELED to pay for 1t to the Standard.
That agents are compelled to draw
three brands" all of supposedly diff
ferent quality, from the same tank and
sell them at different prices.
That agents are instructed to "keep
up stock" and to point out the method
to be used reference is made in letters
to them OF other agents who "have
been known to send out 200 gallons
and report the sale Of from 205 to 20S
gallons"
The first witness of the morning was
e. M. Without, who, In 1896, was agent
for the Standard Oil company at To,
peka, Kan After saying that he had
resigned from the employ of the COM
pany because he could no longer main
tain his self respect and perform the
"dirty" work demanded of him, he
said that during the entire time that
he looked after the interests of the
Standard in Kansas one Of the chief
parts of his work consisted in looking
after the shipments of Independent oil
either to, from or through the city.
II was instructed to get the informa-
tioa on these shipments, no matter
whit I had to do in order to get it.
70, long time the division office at
Kansas City sent me check every
month for eight dollars.
The witness read several letters
from Mr.. Mayer in support of this
point and several letters from e. B..
Pratt in New York. in which inquiries
were made concerning shipments of
independent oil which he had failed
to report.
1.-THE system of spies was so per-
feet" said the witness, chat even
though I missed shipment that came
to Topeka 1t would be reported by
secret agents who had been watching
1t ever since it left the refinery Of the
competing company
I'm completing my spy system In
Topeka | had to make friends with
every shipping clerk in the city, every
agent of the independent companies.
every expressman and drayman and
every one who in anyway came in
touch with the shipment, checking or
handling Of freight before, after or
while 1t was on the cars. could
Street Car and Train Collide.
Chatanooga, Tenn, AN in