The Elbert County tribune., 1906-05-17
STANDARD OIL CO.
CHARGED WITH eRIBINo EN-
PLoYEs OF RIVALS.
AND USING FALSE MEASURES
Former Agent On the Witness Stand
Also Former Railroad President,
Who Tells Of Efforts to Bribe OH,
GERS and Clerks.

VINO CHS OF EHorts TO brtbe OH-s
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, were charged against
the Standard Oil Company at Wednes-
days hearing before the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
incidentally it was charged that the
'Frisco road gives a rate of cents
a hundred to the Standard Oil Com
pany, when 1t charges competitors of
that corporation ten times assmuch for
the 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 e. NJ.
Wilhoit of Springfield. Missouri, for
merly for ten years agent of the Stand
| ard Oil Company at Topeka. 1t was he
who made the charge of bribery and
dishonesty against the company and
| said that the Frisco road discrimi-
| Company.
Other witnesses for the day were H.
| C. Deran of of Fremont, Ohio. and r..
| P. Ripley, president of the Santa Fe
! railroad.
| Mr.. Wilhoit said that while in the
employ OF the Standard OIL Company
he had, In following out the instruc-
| tions of his superior officers, bribed
clerks In the offices of railroads and
employees of independent oil concerns
in order to obtain information of the
details of the business done by the
rivals of the Standard Oil Company.
He declared that agents of the Stand
ard OIL Company are held personally
| responsible for all oil sold In their ter
ritories by independent companies.
He said that the drivers of tank
wagons are expected to keep up their
stock by selling 205 to 2os gallons from
a wagon load of 200 gallons.
He said the actual tests of the prod
ucts OF the Standard Oil Company to
| determine the quality are carefully
guarded and that when 1t was found
necessary to cut the price to meet the
figure Of competitor. cheaper quail
ity of oil was substituted and guaran
teed to be of higher grade than II
really was.
Mr.. Wilhoit said that frequently
three grades of oil were sold from the
same tank by agents of the Standard
| Oil Company.
Several letters were read by the wit
ness in which he was instructed tc
watch shipments in his territory ant
report the name of every customer O
the independent concerns and thu
amount and quality of oil received b.
him. He said that he had bribed clerks
in the offices of the Rock Island, SAINT;
Fe and Missouri Pacific to give hin
lists of shipments to the customer
of Independent companies.
He also told Of bribing teamsters II
order to obtain information.
Did you ever give short measure L
your customers?" asked Commissions
Prouty.
well, we did not call it that" re
piled the witness. 4 was frequentl,
advised by agents OF the company tina
my stock was not showing up as i
should and was told that 1t was sim
pie matter to sell 205 to 208 gallons
from 200-gallon load OF oil. The com
pany explained this by saying that oil
expanded in the wagon"
Attorney Miller for the Standard Oh
Company broke in at this point To In
quire the scope of the investigation
He said that it was his understanding
that the power of the commission wal
limited to an investigation OF the rela
tions of the company with common car
riers and that SO far not the slightes
evidence upon that point had beer
given. He was opposed. he said, to thu
raking of muck and scandal by goini
back ten years in history.
For your information l Will assur'
you that the Standard OH Company i
doing the very same things to-day.
said Mr.. Wilhoit.
81 object to that statement" shouted
Attorney Miller.
Commissioner Clements, in answe
to the inquiry of Mr.. Miller. said tina
it was desired to obtain all the infor
nation possible and report 1t for tn
consideration of Congress.