Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-25
STANDARD OIL. TRICKS
Further Revelations of the |. c.
c. inquiry
AT CLEVELAND, OHIO, TODAY
Shipments Sidetracked to Destroy the
Trade
OF COMPETITIVE COMPANIES
Questionable Methods Resorted to to
XIII Off the Business of Any
Rival Corporation.
F COMPETITIVE COMPANIES

CLEVELAND, Ohio May 25.-Frank B.
Fretter, secretary of the National Refining
Company of Cleveland and president OF tho
National Pipe Line Company of Ohio,
whose testimony. was uncompleted yester-
day, resumed the witness stand this morn
ing when the interstate commerce commits
sion began the second days investfga-
ton here Of the Standard OH Company.
Mr.. Fretter testified that for over three
years his companies had trouble in making
shipments from Memphis. Tenn. to points
in Arkansas. There were many delays, he
said. customers being compelled to wait all
the way from thirty, sixty and ninety
days. In investigating the cause OF the
delay the witness said he found that the
agents of the roads were also agents of the
Watters-Pierce OH Company of Missouri, q
Standard adjunct.
These agents, he said, deliberately side
tracked shipments in order to destroy his
trade His companies, he declared lost
many customers because of the trouble in
receiving orders. Every possible method
was used TO keep the companies products
on the road as long as possible, and the Gus
toners, despairing of receiving prompt
service, began buying of the Standard Oil
Company.
Turned Down for Standard
When Attorney Kline, for the Standard
NoHipdHAs DtSdH QUESTIONING fTetIeT
concerning the lubricating oil contract which
he attempted to get from the Rock Island
system ten years ago and about which he
testified yesterday, Mr. Fretter said that he
offered his oil at figure low enough to
enable the railroad to save a large amount
OF money, but that, Notwithstanding. he
was turned down in favor of the Standard
Oil Company.
At the present time, he said the price of
Hat nj NC mol ha
that of the Standard Company, but never
theless it was impossible to sell to any rail-
road company Infthe matter of black or
low-grade lubricating oil, for which the
Standard Company obtained u cents per
gallon, his company would be glad to sell
at and cents in bulk
Mr.. klinA's cross questioning Of the wit
ness was vigorous and searching, and IL
brought out the fact that several small oil
selling concerns were operating under the
wing of the National Refining Company
Mr.. Kline tried to establish this as a situa-
ton not consistent with the attitude of the
witness. Mr.. Fretter, however. declared
that his companies always went after bus-
in the legitimate manner.
Standards Wide Margin of Profit.
Asked by Mr. Kline If he considered his
attitude in the Rock Island deal legitimate.
Mr.. Fretter said certainly, the Standard
Company in this case had such a wide mar
gin of profit that the National Refining
Company could sell the same article at
much lower price and still make hand
some profit.
Forced Rival Into Receivership.
William Ebinger, dry goods merchant
OF Marietta Ohio, testified that for several
years previous to 1895 he was Interested
in what was known as the Webster refinery
In the Marietta field The refinery went
into the hands of a receiver ultimately, ne
said, because of the methods of the Stand
ard.
declared TO ruin the Webster refinery wss
the starting of a supposed independent
company whose agents went among The
Webster customers and offered them bet
ter rates on goods handled by the Wooster
people. The refinery, he said, lasted Only
about three years because of these tactics.
T. B. Westgate of Titusviile, Pa, was
recalled for the purpose of giving tcSi-
mony concerning the alleged undertaking
of tank cars by the Standard company. and
concerning which he gave some testimony
yesterday. Mr.. Westgate said thai ne
now had positive evidence of undertaking
which he lacked when he testified yrster-
day. He then produced several bills or
lading of shipments made in 1901 oy me
Vacuum Oil Company from Olean, ". Y,
to a Mr.. Mason In Rochester, y. T., and
read figures which he said established Ire
fact that the shipments were unidentified.
There was much technical discussion con-
sioners indicated that they were not clear
on the subject. and they took possession
of the papers for the purpose of figuring
them out.