Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-25
OIL TRAFFIC HEARING RESUMED
More Light Upon the Methods of the
Rockefeller Com bine.

HOckefelIer COMBINE.
CLEVELAND, May 24-In two pro-
traoted sessions today, the Interstate Com
merce commission, Members Prouty and
Clements in attendance. heard evidence
bearing on the methods of the Standard
OIL company The sessions were a con
tinuation OF the investigation held in Chi
caRo nearly two weeks ago. Only four
witnesses were examined today. Those who
testified were F. B. Westgate Of Titusville,
Penn, treasurer and manager Of the Amer
ican Oil works: State Senator Emery of
Bradford, Pa; State Senator ]. w. Lee Of
Pittsburg and Frank B. Fretter. secretary
OF the National Refining company Of Cleve-
land, and president of the National Pipe
Line company, having several small pipe
lines in Ohio oil fields.
No decidedly sensational testimony was
produced, but most of It related to methods
which the so-called trust took TO prevent
competition and drive it's rivals out of
business. Much evidence was offered show
ing that railroad companies took consider
able part in aiding the Standard to night its
rivals.
F. b. Westgate, the first witness, and an
independent oil man for nineteen years,
testified that since 1886 rates had nearly
doubled without apparent reason.
State Senator Louis Emery OF Bradford,
Pa, was asked concerning the conditions
in Pennsylvania when the oil pipe lines
were constructed in that state.
''The first pipe lines in Pennsylvania were
not invented by the Standard oil company"
said the witness at one point in his testi-
mony. THE Standard never invented any
thing. 1t has always stolen what some
| body else created"
The further testimony of the witness was
| principally devoted TO trials and hardships
of his company. The United States Pipe
Line company is building pipe lines across
Pennsylvania from OIL City TO the seaboard
in competition with the Standard Oil COM
pany. In giving his testimony the senator
grew quite eloquent and his words re-
sounded through the chamber like the de-
livery Of an impassioned address. He was
allowed 10 proceed without interruption.
and ne related the many struggles Of a ten
years night to get two pipe lines to the
| seaboard, one by the way OF Philadelphia
and the other through West Virginia. In
one contest he said the company lost be-
tween 100000 and $4,000.
! I'VE are today" he said. the only COM
petitor OF the Standard TO the seaboard,
and that is the only way we can transport
our oil. for the railroads are controlled
completely by the Standard. We have been
bounded to death by the Standard. They
even tried TO buy up our 81, OOoOOO issue OF
stock and we were compelled to put our
stock in trust so that II would not be pos
| sible 70 sell out to this 'deVilhsh' except
by the unanimous consent OF all of US"
Senator Emery of Bradford. Pa. took the
stand again when the afternoon session
began. He related further history con-
cerning his night against the Standard, Civ
ing one instance Of how a refinery at Phil
adelphis was compelled 10 &c out OF bust
ness because the railroads raised the
rates to an exorbitant figure and also
scattered their tank cars to the distant
corners of the country. Another instance
was when q new field of oil was discovered
in the Bradford district and his company
took charge OF Il. railroad rate OF 10
cents a barrel was obtained, but the Penn
sylvania Railroad company compelled the
connecting line under threats TO raise the
rate TO % cents. He said then the oil
company constructed a pipe line where
upon the Standard concern came in and
offered 10 cents more barrel for the oil
ana compelled his company TO abandon the
field
Senator Emery told OF the. alleged spy
system OF the Standard 10 obtain informa-
tion concerning the business Of rivals. He
had a contest. he said. not more than a
year ago. with the Pennsylvania railroad.
A field Of oil had been found IN the vicinity
Of steubenville. Ohio and he obtained a
rate OF 70 cents a hundred gallons 10 Brad
ford. Pa. the rate was allowed for only