Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-05-18
STANDARD OIL CO..
CHARGED WITH eRieINo EN-.
PLoYEs OF RIVALS.
AND USING FALSE MEASURES

Former Agent On tho Witness Stand
Also Former Railroad President.
Who Tells Of Efforts to Bride ON.
GERS and Clerks.
Chicago.-Corruption Of railroad en-.
ployes and agents OF independent oil
companies. dishonest methods OF pro.
curing land leases. the giving OF short
measure and the selling OF three differ-
ent kinds Of oil out OF the same tank.
and Misrepresentation as to the quail.
ity Of the oil sold. werc charged against
the Standard OIL Company at Wednes-
days hearing before the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
Incidentally II was charged that tho
Frisco road gives u rate OF 2 cents
q hundred to the Standard OIL Com
pany. when 1t charges competitors OF
that corporation ten times rs much for
tho same haul.
The inquiry was held under an order
of Congress. and the session was along
the Same lines as that held some time
ago In Kansas City.
An important witness was Z. NJ.
Wilhoit Of Springfield. Missouri. for.
merly for ten years agent Of the Stand
ard OIL Company ut Topeka. II was he
who made the charge OF bribery and
dishonesty against the company and
said that the Frisco road discrimi.
mated In favor OF the Standard OIL
Company.
Other Witnesses for the day wcre II.
C. Dcran Of Of Fremont. Ohio. and II.
p. Ripley. president Of tho Santa Fo
railroad.
Mr.. wiihoit said that while In tho
employ OF tho Standard Oil Company
he had, In following out tho instruc-
tons OF his superior officers. bribed
clerks In the Offices OF railroads and
employees Of independent oil concerns
In order to obtain Information OF tho
details OF tho business done by tho
rivals OF the Standard OIL Company.
He declared that agents Of the Stand.
ard OIL Company arc held personally
responsible for all oil sold In their ter.
ritories by independent companies.
He said that tho drivers OF tank
wagons are expected to keep up their
stock by scliin. 2o5 TO 2os gallons from
q wagon load OF 200 gallons.
He said the actual tests Of tho prod.
ucts OF the Standard OIL Company to
determine tho quality arc carefully
guarded md that when IL was found
necessary TO cut III. price to meet tho
fsure Of n competitor. a cheaper quail.
ity Of oil was substituted and Iunran
really was.
Mr.. Wilhoi. said that frequently
three grades Of oil were sold from tho
same tank by agents Of tho Standard
OIL Company.
Several letters were read by tho Wit
ness In which he was instructed 10
watch shipments In his territory and
report tho name Of every customer ot
tho independent concerns and tho
amount and quality OF oil received by
him. He said that he had bribcd clerks
In tho ofIiccs OF tho Rock Island. Santa
Fe and Missouri Pacific TO give him
lists OF shipments to tho customers
Of independent companies.
He also told Of bribinE tcnmstcry In
order to obtain Information.
''Did you ever give short measure to
your custoncrs?" asked Commissioner
Prouty.
"Wcil, wc did not call It that" rc-
piled tho witness. I was frequently
advised by agents OF the company that
my stock was not showing up Ms Il
should end was told that II was sim.
plo matter to sell s05 to EOS gallons
from 2o0.Eailon load Of oil. The com.
pany explained this by saying that oil
expanded In the wagon"
Attorney Miller for tho Standard OIL
Company broke In Mt this point to In.
quiro tho scope Of tho Investigation.
He said that II was his understanding
that tho power Of tho commission was
limited to an investigation OF the rela.
tions Of the company with common car.
riers and that SO far not the slightest
evidence upon that point had been
given. He was opposed. he said. to tho
raking Of muck and scandal by going
back ten years in history.
For your information I will assure
you that tho Standard OIL Company Is
doing the very same things to-day
said Mr.. Wilhoit.
II object to that statement" shouted
Attorney Miller.
Commissioner Clements. in answer
to the inquiry Of Mr.. Miller. said that
It was desired to obtain all the infor.
nation possible and report 1t for tho
consideration Of Congress.