The Topeka state journal., 1906-03-13

the price Of refined kerosene was 13
cents a gallon. When the law went
into effect the Standard Oil company
reduced the price to 9 cents
Mr. Robertson, will you tell the
commission how intimately kerosene
and gasoline enters into the life of the
Kansan -
In many parts Of Kansas there is
no other fuel
Mr.. Robertson. cross-examined by
W. T. Smith, attorney. for the Santa Fe
railway. denied any knowledge OF the
government having issued a fraud or
der against the Uncle Sam Oil COM
pany. He admitted that charges had
been preferred against his company.
principally that it was overcapitalized
and that the assets We're not sufi-
Client.
F. A. Leland. assistant general
freight agent of the Missouri, Kansas
& Texas railway, was the second wit
ness called He told in reply to ques-
tions of meeting at St. Louis in June.
1904 Of the traffic managers of the
Missouri Pacific, the Santa Fe. the
Frisco. and his road, to consider the
raising of the oil rate from Kansas.
he said that Mr.. Bogardus, traffic
manager of the Standard Oil company.
was present, but he did not recall that
any of the Independent oil refiners eof
Kansas had been asked to attend the
meeting After the meeting he was in
changed from 10 cents to II cents
from Kansas points to Kansas City,
Mo
Didn't you know that the change
was contemplated before that meet
lng2 Mr.. Leland was asked
Yes. we had discussed it,
hold a letter signed by you and
addressed to J. A. Boland of Kansas
CITY, written May %. 1904, said Mr..
Marchand. and he showed it to Mr.. Le-
lot
admitted having written advised Mr..
Boiand that the rate upon crude oil
from southeastern Kansas to Kansas
city, Ieavenworth. Atchison and St.
Joseph, would be raised to II cents
When did the II cent rate go into
effect?'
August Is. 1904
About that time the Standard Oil
company completed a pipe line from
the Kansas oil field to its refinery at
sugar Creek in Missouri, did it not?''
And coincident with that the rate
went up?"
1T had been agreed upon
Did Mr.. Bogardus object to the
raise in rate p
Yes. he severely objected to it. He
wanted a lower rate"
The effect of the II cent rate would
pc to guide oil into Bogardus' pipe line,
wouldn't it p
Il don't think So
With a II cent rate and a 2 cent
pump line rate don't you think the oil
would all go by the pump line?''
NOT necessarily so, since the rate
went into effect the shipment of oil
over railroads has been increased
MI Leland admitted that under the
kansas rate law the rate for oil from
Chanute, Kan, to Kansas CITY Kan.
was 9 4 cents, in less than car load
lots But to Kansas City. Mo, it was
81 Y cents and the distance was only
n miles by his road, which made a
detour to get into Kansas City. Mo
He said his road hauled a tank car rs
miles in Kansas under the Kansas ra te
law for S2.33, and charged $3.50 fol-
the same service in Missouri
G. D. Webster, president of the
Western refinery at Humboldt, Kan.
this afternoon told how he had bull
up a prosperous oil business; how +
was almost ruined by increased rate!
In 1904 and how the maximum freigh
rate law of Kansas had made it posi-
bic for him to clear a profit again.
Ehe nearing will probably continue
| two days more as more than 100 wit
/ nesses have been subpoenaed.