The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-29
O|L RATES IN SOUTH AS BAD AS UP NORTH Conditions in Seven States h. vestigated in New Orleans OIL TARIFFS ARE SHOWN Every Rate Made By the Southern Railway Is Declared to Be Be-
 tween Standard Oil
 Stations.
OIL TARIFFS ARE SHOWN

New Orleans, La, June 2S--Testimony on oil freight rates affecting seven South ern states was taken today by the inter state commerce commission. All the wit nesses were independent oil dealers. A book on oil tariff rates, issued oy the Southern Railway was put into evidence. the Standard oil company testified that every rate published in the book is be- tween Standard Oil stations.
 Martin Carey of Buffalo, representing the Standard oil company. pointed out u provision In this book that rates will be made to any station when proper facli- ties for unloading are furnished. Commissioner Charles A. Prouty, re- plying, said:
 '.I understand that proper facilities for unloading mean storage tanks and small dealers cannot build such tanks
 Mr. Hudson, who is manager of the Ma rlne Oil company limited of this city, testified that Woodward Wight & co of New Orleans. five years ago, when about to enter the oil business, accepted $3oO00 from the Standard oil company. for which they gave contract, agreeing not to sell oil for five years. This contract termi- mates next Saturday.
 Tried to Have Oil Condemned.
 MT. Hudson said that several years ago when he was a Standard oil employe, the Red C oil company of Baltimore shipped a car of oil to Pezer, s. C. He was or dered to proceed immediately to Pelzer, where he tried to have the oil condemned as under the standard. In this attempt he failed, and C. T. Collins of Cincinnati, then vice president and general manager of the Standard oil refining department, ordered him not to cut prices or oil at Pelzer as witness had expected to do. The following month the Standard Oll company hired the Red company's Pelzer agent bought his oil, and the wit ness said, secured the business.
 M. w. Wilbourn. secretary and treas urer of the National Refining company of Memphis, Tenn, said that at Fayettc- ville Tenn, his employees had been in- formed by an oil inspector that their oil must be inspected at a cost of 50 cents a barrel, although 1t had been previously
 inspected by Tennessee Inspector Wit ness was informed that just previous to this Standard oil agents had canvassed the town to learn who bought his oil. At Memphis, he said. he had caused the discharge of an employc of the Frisco Railroad. whom he assured of showing the bills of Iadlng of the National Refining company to Standard oil agents
 saesmen Arfested By Inspectors.
 In Arkansas, witness said, his statesmen had been arrested by state oil inspectors on charges that their oil was below the standard. These arrests had never been prosecuted The salesmen frequently had been told that if they would leave town there would be no prosecution. At Wal nut Ridge. Ark, witness said. one in- spector had been also a distributor for the waters-Pierce oil company. At pres ent he said, he has no complaint against the Arkansas inspectors.
 T. J. Gay, manager of the Gaya OH company of Little Rock, Ark, said that it had been a common practice among railroads for the railroad agents to also be agents for the Waters-Pierce oil com pany. lie said the St Louis. Iron Noun tain and Southern Railroad had had one such agent. Oil shipments in Texas. Kan sas and Indian Territory were also in- quired into.