New-York tribune., 1906-05-13
OIL TESTS WERE FIXED
so STANDARD NAN SAYS.
Witness Tells Hoo Grit Vas Placed
irs RiUaIs Product.

Chicago. May 12-Investisation OF the Antef-
state Commerce Commission into the relations
between the STANDARD Oh Company and the rail-
roads was ended this afternoon, so far as this
region is concerned and viii be resumed In
Cleveland on May "a.
r. s. Hibbs OF PEORIA who was for thirteen
wears in the employ Of the Standard OIL Com
pany. told to-day how agents OF the Standard
on Company triclzed customers into thinking
that the product Of their company was superior
20 the product Of independent companies. He
gave the names OF men whom he had bribed TO
give Information Of the business OF competitors.
and on cross examination declared 'the Standard
on Company was doing all OF those things to-
day."
railroads and manufacturing companies. and one
instance was related where wire and naN TilI
in Indiana was compelled 70 shut down because
grit had been placed IN the OIL purchassea oI en-
independent concern, at the instance OF a sales
man OF the Standard OH Company -,,
In explaining Standard OIL methods Mr.. Htons
said:
In testing the oil Of a rival company we used used
a new chimney and the magnesia In the glass
made the chimney look cloudy For our own
use we had an old chimney with the WICK per-
fectly dried out and not too long we, We uoN - 10 ~
competitor and after &c burned a short time tne
damp spot would be reached the light would
grow dim and there would be a sputteTlng. All
fhis time our light would be burning brightly.
Our vrfcks were trimmed so as 20 make thln
flame, and those or the competitors We LEAAL4AISN
so as 70 make a thick fame. The thinner the
flame, the winter the light. Then we would
often bend down the lower part OF the burner
and let air In under the chimney, which would
cause the lamp 20 smoke. SOmetimes we would
an up some OF the yentilating holes around the
burner with chewing gum. resorted 20 these
tricks only when competitor was selling OH IN
a town and wanted 70 get rid OF him.
The witness then told Of dinner given In
Peoria by G. H. Hand. manager Of the Cincin-
natl Office Of the Standard OIL Company, at
which Hand said Robert Carlyle a salesman.
had. IN getting a certain customer. used S100 TO
bribe the employees Of the firm using the OIL
The witness told how he would induce q man
to give him a fake order for oil, and then snow
it later 20 agents OF the Standard Otl Company
who would give the man cash present 70 get
him TO buy oil from the Standard O3l Company
The witness said he received some OK the
money but declared the object OF the scneLfle
was not to make money. but 20 cause trOuDAe
and expense for the Standard OIL Company.
Hibbs said he knew Of many occasions when
the Standard OIL Company had sold three kinds
of oil out Of the same barrel az different prices.
]. A. Whalen, purchasing agent for the WIS
consin Central Railroad said that his company
had always purchased it's oil from the G9lena
OIL Company, a branch OF the Standard Oh
Company, and paid higher prices than were
asked by independent concerns. He said In
lieu Of the usual guarantee given by The 0L
company, the railroad received rebate OK Sz'vVo
q year from the Galena OIL Company.
Manager Kellogg, OF the George 2. Jenks on
Company, an independent concern. said that he
never attempted to sell oil TO railroads because
he feared annoyance.