Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-29
STANDARD OIL COT
FAVORABLE Rates
WITNESS TELLS OF ADVANTAGE
GIVEN TRUST In FIGURING
MILNAaN.
SAME BASIS REFUSED
INDEPENDENT CONCERNS

Interesting Testimony Heard at In
terstate Commerce Commission
Probe at Overwhelmingly of
Rivals Bribed,
Cleveland, o., May 28.-W. E. Mac
Gwen, former chief clerk in the car
department Of the Lake Shore & Mich
igan Southern railroad general Of
fees in Cleveland, was the first wit
ness Saturday In the Standard OIL
Investigation by the interstate COM
merce commission. He testified that
he had charge Of the compiling of the
mileage Of the cars OF the Union
Tank line. He said that the reports
were forwarded each day at noon to
the Cleveland once OF the Standard
OIL company. The Lake Shore COM
pany, he declared, gave the Standard
big advantage IN tabulating records
of tank oars. In that the mileage Of
Standard tank GERS were figured on
different basis than the cars of COM
peting companies. The advantage
amounted all tho way from to
81 cents per car, according to the
distances between different points on
the road.
When he left the employ Of the
Lake Shore several years ago he be-
gan work for the Peerless Transit
company, an Independent tank line.
He asked the Lake Shore officials for
ere same basis Of figuring mileage as
was given to the Union Tank line.
He was ridiculed, he said, and was
told that he did not know what he
was talking about, and every effort
was made to belittle him in the eyes
OF his new employers. Finally, how
ever. having obtained copies Of the
Union Tank line reports and taking
them to the proper ofhcials, the road
reluctantly granted his request. Some
two weeks ago. however. he said, he
had ascertained that the older order
of things had been resumed and he
went to investigate. The Lake Shore
sfncials, he said. acted surprised, and
offered the explanation that the Peer
less Transit company, being the only
concern which was allowed the same
rates as the Union Tank line, the mat
ter had been quite forgotten. The
Union Tank line rate was at once re-
stored. Macewen also testified that
the Lake Shore and Pennsylvania
companies had recently been rejecting
Peerless Transit company's tank cars
built two or three years ago In accord
ance with specifications furnished by
the railroad companies At the same |
time, the witness said, he knew of |
his own personal knowledge that
Union Tank cars, not complying with
specifications, were accepted by the
railroads.
Figured on Different Basis.
Macewen testified that the mileage
for Standard tank cars between Cleve-
land and Chicago was figured on the
basis Of 357 miles, while the mileage |
for independent cars was figured on
the basis Of 32s miles. The same rule,
he claimed, prevailed between all
other points on the Lake Shore road.
The witness made the further
charge that certain freight employees
Of the Lake Shore road received
monthly salaries from the Union Tank
Line company, Standard concern.
and in return for such compensation
the freight officials made special ef-
forts to facilitate the movements of
Standard OH shipments. This, he
pointed out, gave the Standard an ad-
ditional advantage over the independ-
ants.
w. J. Brickell, for 20 years editor
Of the Columbus CO., Evening Dis
patch, was called to toll what, If any
thing, he knew about that paper &C
eepting articles alleged to have been
furnished by the Standard Oil COM
pany, and paid for at SO much per
line. These articles, it was declared,
by Special Counsel Monnett, went to
125 subsidized papers in Ohio, and the
general purport Of them was to mis-
represent the Standard OIL company's
real character to readers, leading
them to believe that the findings OF
courts and the various publications
against the Standard, were unjustihed
and unwarranted. Mr.. Brickell de-
MED That he had any positive knowl.
edge on the subject and said that II
any such contract existed 1t was
known only to the business manager
OF the paper. Mr.. Brickell denied
the assertion made by Mr.. Monnett
that he (Brickell)> had recently said
20 him In Pullman car that the
Standard company paid so cents per
line for certain articles.
Employees Of Rivals Rribed.
2. D. Ellis. an independent oil deal
Or Of Cincinnati, gave evidence show.
Ing that the names of his customers
were systematically obtained by the
Standard by bribing employees. He
said he caught one in the act, and
compelled him to swear to an affidayit
that he was paid $3.50 per week by
the Standard for forwarding informa-
ton concerning shipments. Having
obtained the names Of customers, the
witness said, the Standard agents went
20 them and in many nefarious ways
induced some Of them to take Stand.
ard OIL goods.
President Elected.
Buda-Pesth. Hungary, May 2S.-
julius Won Justh was elected presi-
dent of the lower house Of the Hun.