Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-05-17
RIPLEY ADMITS IT.
Santa Ee Railroad Raised Rate on
Crude on When Standard Pipe
Lane Was Finished
REDUCED TARIFF ON Gas OIL
Methods Employed By the OH TRust
70 XIII Competition Explained
b. Former Agent at
Topeka.

| Chicago, May ll.-CorTuptiou VI bhn-
road employees and agents OF indepen-
dent oil companies, dishonest methods
Of procuring land leases, the giving Of
short measure and the selling Of three
different kinds Of oil out Of the same
tank and misrepresentation as to the
quality Of the oil sold, were charged
against the Standard OIL company at
Thursdays hearing before the inter-
state commerce commission.
incidentally It was charged that the
Frisco road gives rate OF two cents
a hundred to the Standard OIL COM
pany when II charges competitors OF
that corporation ten times as much for
the same haul. The inquiry was held
under an order of congress and this
session held here Thursday was along
the same lines as that held some time
ago In Kansas City.
The principal witness Of Thursday
was g. M. Wilhoit, of Springfield, Mo-,
formerly for ten years agent OF the
Standard OIL company at Topeka. 1t
was he who made the charges Of briD"
cry and dishonesty against the COM
pany, and said that the Frisco road
Disseminated In favor Of the Standard
OIL company. Other witnesses uor
the day were H. G. Deran Of Fremont,
O.; E. P. Ripley. president Of the At
Gibson, Topeka & Santa Fe road, and
M. Maxon, former agent Of the Stan
dard Oil company in Illinois. The last
witness gave testimony which In many
instances was the same as that given
by Mr.. WilhoiL
The first witness was q. M. VIII
holt, Of Springfield, Mo-, now an indie
pendent oil operator but ten years
ago an agent Of the Standard OIL COM
pany. He testified that while in the
employ Of the Standard OH company
he had, In following out the instruc-
tons Of his superior officers, bTibed
clerks in the Offices Of railroads and
employees OF independent oil concerns
in order to obtain information OF
the details of the business done BY
the rivals Of the Standard OIL COM
pany. He declared that agents Of the
Standard OH company are held per-
sonally responsible for all oil sold
In their territory BY independent com.
panies and that the drivers Of tank
wagons are expected TO keep up their
stock BY selling 205 TO 20S gallons
from wagon load Of 300 gallons.
He said that the actual tests OF the
products Of the Standard OIL COM
pany to determine the quality are
carefully guarded and that when 1t
was found necessary to cut the price
to meet the figure Of competitor 0
cheaper quality Of oil was substituted
and guaranteed to be Of o higher
grade than II really waa
"Cylinder oil Is the most profitable
sold," said the witness, "and the
Standard OIL company dislikes to have
any Independent sell any Of this grade
Our instructions were II we found q
competitor selling this oil In our ter
ritory to set the price so as to get
the orders and then substitute an In
ferior grade Of oil and guaranty 1t
to be of superior quality"
p. P. Ripley, president Of the Atchi-
son; Topeka 8 Santa Fe railway was
called to the stand. He was asked con-
corning agreements Of the railroad
company with number Of companies
alleged to be subsidiary companies Of
the Standard OIL company.
THE first contract" said President
Ripley, twas with a man In Kansas
City to lay pipe line on our right Of
way for $40 a mile The next was for
q line from Kansas City TO Joliet, and
for this we received $50 per mile. We
got s2500O0 for hauling the pipe.
was very sorry TO see the pipe line
built but as Il had to be done did
the best could out Of it."
"Is there any contract between your
road and the Standard Oil company or
any Of the subsidiary companies for
furnishing the road with lubricating |
oilT" asked Commissioner Prouty.
81 understand So Our purchasing
agent can tell you better"
Mr.. Ripley declared that two Of the
oil companies with which be made !
contracts are afillated with the STAN
dard OIL company.
Didn't you raise the rate In Kansas
on oil when the pipe line was put int
asked Attorney Monet
I'VE did but we carried oil before
the pipe line was put In, and We have
carried none since"
He was asked Il the rate on gas
oil was not lowered, and that on crude
oil raised. and answered that II was.
~When the crude oil was piped the
rate was raised. but the rate on gas
OIL was lowered. II being shipped;
Isn't that sof'