davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
Underground Methods.

As an example OF the devious ways of
the trust Mr.. Gruet gave an example of
how railroad employees We're subsidized.
1T was the custom" he said, Ito have
in our employ man to whom was furn-
ished every month a sum of money to
distribute among minor clerks and EN-
ployees of the railroads in our territory.
In return he obtained records of ship
ments made to and from independent
companies.
This go-between was nominally a clerk
in the Presidents department. In
our office In St. Louis his yellow dog
fund was from 500 to $500 per month.
which was distributed in small amounts
to such clerks in railroad offices as re-
quired substituting. While this system had
its headquarters in the office, all the high
officials of the company pretended to be
in Ignorance of it; bur surely they were
aware of the vouchers required to supply
the fund
when the information was secured
the clerk compiled it on regular blanks for
that purpose and notified our agent at the
point effected to be prepared and to take
precautions to head off sales by independ-
ents If he had authority, and believed
he could handle the matter In some simple
way he used his own judgment. Other
wise he communicated with us for in
structions. A variety of methods have
been employed, but in most cases lowering
the schedule of prices was the effective
means.
BY the time the Independent oil had
arrived our prices in that vicinity were
reduced to an equal or lower figure than
the independents could sell for. When the
competition was checked or the COMPETE
tor ruined, prices were restored to the
old figure.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
Continued story of Graft.

1t seems that to startling revelations OF
insurance rottenness there is no end. AL
ready the evidence obtained by the special
insurance grand jury has laid in the shade
the Armstrong committees revelations.
Andrew c. Fields has told his story to the
jury, and on the strength of it a number
of the officers and trustees of the Mutual
Life Insurance company are likely to be
indicted.
The most interesting fact that the jury
has brought out this week is that hun
dreds of thousands of dollars were paid
by the Mutual for supplies that were
never delivered or even ordered
All this money is said to have been
handed over to Fields for his confidential
legislative fund" Money was paid out on
fake bills-bills rugged up on letter heads
of firms that never existed, o KID by Off
GERS of the company and then passed by
the expenditures committee without ques-
ton. Here is the system as explained by
Mr.. McKibbin, a member of the firm OF
McKibbn & Son, who did work for Ly
sander Lawrence & Co-bnding and
printing which was for the Mutual.
Mr.. McKibbin testified that in due
course of time a check would come for the
Mutual in payment for the work As an
illustration of how the money finally got
to Fields it was explained that. for in
stance the Lawrence concern really owed
McKibbn & Son $1,000 for work actually
done. The check from the Mutual would
be for $500 McKibbin & Son would take
out what was coming to them and send
the balance to the Lawrence company.
This money is said to have gone to Fields
ostensibly for his Legislative work
The bills would be passed by Fields and
sanctioned by DR. Walter r Gillette then
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03

bold in the next lower places. On the
steps sit then lesser satellites.
Perhaps, the three are in training to
take a hand in ruling the hereafter as
well as the present and dethrone the
reignlng occupants of their positions and
authority.
The Standard system of today that
camps around the throne of the Trio is
managed by an executive committee, to
whom auxiliary committees report The
members of this executive committee are
William Rockefeller, John d. Arohbold,
Frank Q. Barstow, w. II. Tilford and
c. NJ. Pratt.
John D. Rockefeller now is simply a
consulting engineer. Up 10 a few years
ago he was active in the business. He
was the controlling influence in the whole
system. The executive committee dealt
then merely with details. He had veto
power and changed arbitrarily anything
he did not like. Increase of business, adj
vancing years and various other reasons
made it necessary to divide responsible
ties, which were assumed chiefly by VIII
liam Rockefeller. II. II. Rogers, John d.
Archbold and Benjamin Brewster, the
latter now dead.
The greatest secrecy surrounds the
executive committee, Its sessions are be-
hind closed DOORS No one knows what is
done save by the results.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
1903
1907
of smokers trying to light pieces Of pape
tt4sb Year

of smokers trying to light pieces of paper
at electric light bulbs.
mo doubt there were millions of people
more or less accustomed to lighting pipes
or cigars in this manner, by means of o
wisp of paper lighted in gas flame, OF
whom all now in the absence of gas, are
compelled to use matches exclusively; and
have no doubt myself that the increase
in the sale of matches due to this cause
must be considerable.
"A sour friend of mind says that my ar
gument is foolish, that they had to use
matches TO light the gas with, that they
lit the wisps by. didn't they?
ITO which l reply that they certainly
did but that commonly single match
would suffice for the lighting of gas
jet while a smoker may. smoke more
than one cigar in an evening, or his
pipe may go out seventeen times, requir-
ing as many matches for its relighting,
where formerly, perhaps, he used none
at all. Why. when you come to think of
IL. the increased demand for matches must
be enormous.
"'Well, what of itg asks my acrid ac-
uuaintance, coming at it again. You get
your matches for nothing, don't you,
where you get your cigarsy
"And to that [ answer that apparently |
do get these matches free; but that ac-
tuaiIy. as | have no doubt, pay for them
in the price | pay for the cigars; for my
experience teaches me that 1t is impossl-
BILE to get something for nothing. we nave
to pay for everything we get In some way
"And. ANYHOW, the question of who pays
for the matches used is something foreign
to my simple original proposition. which,
repeated, is that the widespread introduce
ton of electric lights, with which no
matches are required, instead of hurting
the match trade, must have helped IT,
thus presenting the interesting paradox
of a decreased demand calling for an IN
creased supply"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
Bills From Phantom Firms.

But this wasn't the most fragrant prac-
tice. In many cases bills for supplies and
work purporting to have been done by
McKibbin & Son were paid by the Mutual.
All these bills We're on the bill heads of
McKibbin & Son. although according to
Mr. McKibbin's testimony, his firm never
presented the bills. the work was never
done by them and never ordered.
The only explanation was that some one
in the Lawrence company had printed
bllheads of McKibbin & Son. and these
were handy when the money was needed.
In this way the Mutual paid out from
81 900 to $500 at a clip without getting
any return for the money, so far as the
books of the company show. All these
bills went through Fields to an officer of
the company and We're then passed by the
expenditures committee,
Another system was similar. Much
money went out on bills that were handed
In on the billheads of firms that never
existed. There are said to have been
several bogus firms who We're supposed
to be doing work for the Mutual and get
ting paid. One of these firms, Charles e.
Parsons & Co. supposedly doing business
in advertising novelties got paid for lot
of things that never went to the Mutual
OF course these bills went through Field s
department Simply as a coincidence it
was pointed out that there was clerk
named Parsons employed by the Lysand-
err w Lawrence company
This system of doing business in the
Mutual has been going on for more than
twenty years, increasing in its volume
year by year
1t is thought that millions of dollars
went that way. 1t is pointed out that
for the first four months this year the
of boc
cost $4,000. For the first four months of
last year the expenditures for this depart
ment alone were $4,000. In 1904 more
than 10000 was charged up to this de-
partment On the basis of the saving in
the first quarter this year. 100000 yearly
was wasted or else found its way into the
Fields legislative fund.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
FRENCH PRISON EoR BOYS.
Where UnmanaeeabIe Sons of Rich
Are Cured.

From the Fortnghtly Review.
The Maison Paternelle at Mettray near
Tours, France, where the sons of rich
people between the ages of Il and q are
incarcerated because they are unmanage-
able at home. is curious institution
We We're greeted at the entrance with
a frontage of iron bars. No bell was
rung; our guide noiselessly inserted a gil
gantic key and we entered large hall.
A long row of locked doors greeted us on
each side, and a gallery RUNNING around
the top of the hall repeated the same
thing. These are their rooms" said our
guide in an awful whisper. ''fhey are
shut up in there now-they must not hear
us.
This gruesome hall oppressed one with
a sense of doom and despair quite indes-
cribable No windows, no air from the
skylight overhead.
'They are permitted to go out only in
charge of keeper for one hour in the
day: but / will show you how things have
been arranged for Them" he added.
"There is, | believe, one room vacant at
this moment"
A small bare cell, just big enough to
contain the narrow bed small writing
table, two chairs and minute chest of
drawers and washstand. Iron bars en-
closed the window; a paddock and chain
enabled the door to be opened about four
inches when required
You See" our guide showed us, "by
this means they hear the messe in the
chapel without quitting their rooms
In these cells, he told u.s. the boys lived
day and night, for two, three. sometimes
for six or seven years. Professors come
from Tours and give them instruction at
the small writing table. Once a month
they take a bath, more often If the rea-
tives are willing to pay extra for it. They
are escorted to the bath by a guardian,
The isolation of each boy is so thorough
that two brothers We're once there to-
gether for two years without ever know
ing 1t. The price for the privilege of plac-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
Spies GlrdIe the Country.

In regard to the Standards system of
obtaining information Mr.. Gruet continu-
ed:
THE Standard maintains an extensive
telegraph system of it's own. Along the
route of every pipe line is the private
wire of the company. directly owned by
it. This affords trunk lines from east to
west. In addition there are private wires
leased from the telegraph companies con-
Meeting the principal cities To guard
against leaks, as soon as a message
reaches a point on the tank line wire it
is switched to that where no unfrlendly
ears hears 1t.
Some witnesses assert that the tele-
graph wires are tapped to learn of the
movements of rivals. That is possible,
but to prove 1t Is a very difficult thing.
A company that subsidies railroad clerks
would not hesitate to approach telegraph
companies. But of this l have no direct
knowledge, and therefore cannot speak
'All around the country spies and de-
tectives are used whenever necessary
This system applies not only to obtain
ing information concerning rivals but is
applied to the Standards own employees.
Men are tracked and watched as if they
were suspected criminals. I have In mind
instances where books showed expendi-
lures that proved to be for secret service
funds and reports on movements of ndi-
Viduals.
The system of obtaining information
is an extensive one Nothing going on
in the country that effects, directly or
indirectly, the great trust Is secret very
long from No. 26 Broadway. 1t would
be easily within the province of the
secret service for the company to know
that | am talking with you In this hotel
| have no doubt that my presenc in town
was reported soon after my arrival
There are officials of the company
who would rejoice to have my head
cracked some dark night here In New
Yorks streets. They are entirely capa-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
A PARADOX IN TRADE.
Set Forth in Brief Discourse on
Matches.

From the New York Sun.
ut seems to me- said Mr.. Penguin,
that while a contrary opinion might not
unreasonably be held, the widespread in
PRODUCTION of electric lights must greatly
have helped the match trade; so many
millions more of matches than formerly
being now required for the lighting of
pipes and cigars
when ga swas the chief inuminant it
was common for smokers who had no
matches in their pocket nor any at hand
to fold up a wisp of paper and hold that
for moment in a gas fame for use then
as a cigar lighter That the use of the
wisp of paper was extensive was shown
by the humorous stories printed in the
newspapers when electricity first came in
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
Standard OILS System.

calm clearheaded little man who was
formerly in the employ of the trust has
added through the newspapers some
important details TO the exposures of the
Standard Oil Company's methods by the
interstate commerce commission. He is
John p Gruet, who was a servant of the
company for nineteen years. Here are
sorGe of the things he has to say:
Evidently John d. Rockefeller must
have conceived the organization of the
Standard Oil Company on the accepted
theory of the Trinity. His manifest
piety leads one to believe that his mind
turned to the most perfect example of
controlling large interests, and he estab-
lished the three-in-one idea, placing HIM
self at the head and Rogers and Arch
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03

ing your son under this parental roof is
G12 a month, all instruction being extra.
The boys are known only by the num-
Der of their cell door, so that their sojourn
at the Parental House may not tell
against them in after life, Their friends
suppose them to be en- voyage, or in an
English or German family, learning the
language, One invents a little romance,
you see said our guide.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
Fish Caught in steel Trap.

burlington Correspondence Topeka Capt.
tai.
County Commissioner George w. Ringle
of LEROY tells a fish story that he insists
is true. George says that William Nc
Kay of Leroy recently caught a catfish In
an ordinary steel trap. And more than
that, they say that Mr.. Mckay has been
a fisherman a number of years and is still
a truthful man.
The fish captured in this unusual man
ner was a yellow catfish, weighing about
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
Here's to Corporal Whatshisname

From the New York Sun
If it is possible to identify the corporal
who reduced the price of bread from rs
cents to 10 cents a loaf at the point of the
bayonet in a San Francisco bakery, he
should hear of something to his advan-
tage in chevrons from the colonel of his
regiment
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
UNIVER SITY OF VIRGINIA
Charlottesville, Va.
Industrial and Analytical Chemistry

The demand for practical chemists,
graduates of the School of Chemistry of
the University of Virginia, exceeds the
supply All who have thus graduated
within the past few years have been
promptly located as chemists for iron fur
races, phosphate works sugar and oil re-
fineries. or similar industries. For fur
Their information apply to
EDWIN A. ALDERMAN, President.
5-20-16t-su-wed
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03

nine pounds and Mr.. McKay's theory is
that the fish swan over the trap, which
had been set in the edge of the water
for mink and in some manner let its
weight settle down on the trigger, which
went off and the steel jaws of the trap
caught the fish.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03

BILE of doing it. too. Defying the power
of the trust is no light undertaking.
Many a poor clerk has suffered for
speaking out on the witness stand.'
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
Free of the Danger,

From the Washington Star.
80 that college professor spoke favor
ably of our son?'' said the fond mother.
sort of favorably," answered the faith
err He said there was no danger of his
growing up to be one of these pedants
who never know anything except what
they get in books"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03

TRY the Gawk for half-tone and line
Illustrations. Aqe-Herald Building.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-03
EDUCATIONAL.
THE BINGHAM SCHOOL

Area of
received. ateau.
& IE. C
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-14
RAPID TRANSIT
FO|LS S. |. 80CDEN
Former Lays Down Double Track
On 25th st. to Keep Out
Bamberger Road.
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND CASE.
Program OF Arbor Day School Parade
Auditor Stanford Restrained From
Paying Experts Extra Salary.

ogden, April 1i,--simon Bamherger
Of the Salt Lake & ogden Railway
company is not the only one who can
steal a march on a rival. as was indi-
catcd yesterday afternoon when the
ogden Rapid Transit company caused
no little surprise by laying a second
tack on Twenty-ffth street between
Lincoln and Grant avenues. thus block
ing the mmherger interests from lay
ing n track upon that street. Last Sat
urday night Mr.. Bamberger strung tier
and rails from Twenty-iifth street
along Lincoln avenue 10 Thirty-thrd
street His franchise gave him the
right to lay his track along that street.
up Twenty-iifth street from Lincoln TO
Grant, and northward along Grant ave-
nue. to Twenty-frst street. By the Og-
den Rapid Transit company taking the
action II did yesterday. Mr.. Bamberser
VIII either have to obtain from the
Transit company the privilege OF using
its track or get a franchise from the
city to lay It's track along some other
street. Supt. Flygare and Asst. Supt. j.
w. Bailey were personally mt the scene
OF activity to push the work. and by 8
O'Clock last evening they had the track
laid on the street pavement along
Twenty-iifth street to Grant avenue.
The outcome of the fight for supremacy
between the companies will be awaited
With much interest.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-14

plCted the assessment Of the county.
The total valuation outside OF property
to be assessed BY the state board Of
equalization foots up TO N.ll7, i25, gain
OF nearly $3.50 900 over last year, with
the other valuations yet TO be added,
the total valuation OF the county will
reach about ss,O00,oOO The report shows
that the average assessed valuation Of
horses In the county Is over $50 per
head. There Is falling of In the num-
Der of horses assessed, due 10 the fact
tlat more than 600 head of the best
horses have been shipped out during
the year, large numbers having been
soll ia California and Texas.
Logan leads the list Of towns with a
valuation Of S2,156,6jS; Providence
comes next With a valuation OF sis6.757;
Lewiston third with a valuation OF
A92,3l1, The two last have sugar fac
tory located within their limits; Smith
field at Si55, 1888; Richmond 1864 $685. Hy-
rum S373lSS Wellsvllle 1925, 4S5.
The county treasurer has received Si,-
699.53 to be distributed to the various
school districts OF the county. account
Of the state school tax for 1905
The evening meetings in the various
wards on sunday evening will be adj
journed TO allow the people 10 hear FL
der Nephl l.. Morris address at the
tabernacle.
Lorton Cranney Of star Valley Is here
Tor Few days, visiting friends.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-14
EXTRA PAY HELD UP.
City Auditor Restrained From Paying
Special auditors.

ogden, April li,--Mrs. Florence Stan
ford, the city auditor, has been notified
by j. ID. Skeen that II she pays the ex-
ira compensation of $500 to c, II. Hol-
lingsworth and II. T. Harris for their
work of auditing the citys books she
will be doing an Illegal act, and that
the city council and mayor would be-
liable to prosecution. Therefore. out
Of precaution, Mrs Stanford will not
pay the claims. Jan. 81 Messrs Hol-
lingsworth and Harris were appointed
by Mayor Conroy a special auditing
committee, and their appointment con-
flrmed by the council, who fixed their
compensation at 5000. The gentlemen
entered upon their duties Feb. %. but
claim that before doing SO they notl-
fed the council that the compensation
was not sufficient, and insisted on
more pay. and were assured by the
city fathers that If the work they would
have to do justified II, the council would
give the auditors such compensation
In addition to the sum named as was
just and proper, Messrs. Hollings-
worth and Harris assert that It was on
this last promise they entered upon the
work. and a week ago today asked the
council to fix the compensation over
and above $500, and last Tuesday even
ing the council In regular session al
lowed the auditors an additional COM
pensation OF 5000, making total of
$500 to be paid the gentlemen for their
work.
Mr. Skeen claims that as the special
auditors had contracted and entered
upon the discharge Of their duties be-
fore the extra 5000 was allowed, and
under the constitution which prohibits
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-04-14

10 TWenty-tifth street down Twenty
NTH to the depot and counter march
TO the High school building. The chill.
dren will carry flags and banners bear
ing suitable Inscriptions. The board Of
education will view the children from
President JOyce's office.
The superintendent report showed
an average attendance of 4.4i I'm the
schools during the past week. This Is
a decrease Of almost 100. caused prin-
cipally at the Pingree school, where
many of the pupils were afflicted with
a disease of the eyes called the pink
eye. which necessitated their being Kept
out OF the school for two weeks.
The superintendent was authorized to
ergage the Grand opera house for com.
mencement exercises To be held June l.,
The finance committee reported haV-
ing received 1855 from the state land
interest and SO GIG from the state school
fund, making total of S24.l72 on hand,
The teachers were paid today, the pay
roll amounting to s6,iG,
The supply committee reported hav-
ing tabulated the bids and having
marked the lowest bidders, but as Mr..
Carr was not present, the report was
carried over for one week.
The sanitary committee reported one
case of diphtheria, one of smallpox,
and three of chickenpOX.
Ten applications for positions ms
teachers were received and ordered
filed.