The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-07-05
SPIES 0fc'E TRUST 'i
Employed to Watch Interests
of Octopus in the South.
RACY TESTIMONY GIVEN
Modus operandi Of Canvassing in
Seven Southern States is Brought
Out Before Interstate Conn.,
merce Commission.


Testimony on oil freight rates affect
ing seven southern states was taken
by the interstate commerce commits
sion in session at New Orleans on
Thursday. All the witnesses were in-
dependent oil dealers.
A book on oil tariff rates, issued
by the Southern railway, was put
into evidence. W. o. Hudson, a for
mer employee Of the Standard OH
company, testified that every rate
published in the book is between
Standard Oil stations.
Martin Carr of Buffalo, representing
the Standard OIL company, pointed
out a proviso in this book that rates
will be made 10 any station when
proper facilities for unloading are fur
nished.
Commissioner Ch;kles A. Prouty, re-
plying, said:
II understand that pDper facilities
for unloading mean storage tanks and
that small dealers cannot build such
tanks.''
Mr.. Hudson, who Is manager Of the
Marine Oil company, limited, Of New
Orleans, testified that woodward
Wight & Co., Of New Orleans, five
years ago, when about to enter the
oil business, accepted $4,000 from
the Standard Oil company, for which
they gave contract agreeing not
to sell oil for five years. This con-
tract terminates Saturday, witness
said.
Mr. Hudson said that several years
ago when be was a Standard Oil en-
ployee, the Red C Oil company OF
Baltimore shipped car of oil to
Pelzer, S. G., He was ordered to pro
ceed Immediately to Pelzer, where
he tried to have the oil condemned
as under the standard. In this at
tempt he failed, and C. T. Collins OF
Cincinnati, then vice president and
general manager Of the Standard OIL
refining department, ordered him nof
to cut prices of oil at Pelzer, as
witness had expected to do. The
following month the STANDARD OIL
company hired the Red c company's
Pelzer agent, bought his oil out, the
witness said, and secured the busi-
ness.
NJ. w. WIlburn, secretary and treas
urer of the National Refining compa-
ny Of Memphis, Tenn, said that at
Fayetteville, Tenn, his employees
had been Informed by an oil inspectte
that their oil must be inspected at
a cost of SO cents d barrel, although
it had been previously inspected by
Tennessee inspector.
Witness was informed that just pre-
yious tots tn Standard Oil agents
had canvassed the town to learn who
bought his oil. At Memphis, he said
he had caused the discharge of an
employee of the Frisco railEoad whom
he accused of showing the bills OF
lading of the National Refining COM
pany to Standard Oil agents
In Arkansas, witness said, his
statesmen had been arrested by state
oil inspectors on charges that their
oil was below 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 Walnut
Ridge. Ark, witness said one inspee-
tor had been also a distributor TOR
the Waters-Pierce OIL company.
T.. J. Gay, manager Of the Gay OIL
company of Little Rock, Ark, said
that it has bes1 common pracuce
among Arkansas railroads for the rail-
road agents to be also agents OF the
Waters-Pierce Oil company. He said
the st, Louis, Iron Mountain and
Southern railroad had had one such
agent. Oil shipments in Texas, Kan
sas, Mississippi and Indian Territory
u1ene also inquired into.