Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-23

Company Extinguished.
DO you know of any Standard Oil Com
pany having anything to do with the fixing
of any prices except that at which they will
sell their product?'
None that know Of"
I'm reference to that Incident of compe-
titon you spoke Of do you remember the
name of that company now"
Mr.. Milburn meant the company that was
put out of business by the Continental Oil
Company. an ally of the Standard. In 1892.
1T was the Rocky Mountain Oil Com
pany."
And that was fifteen years ago."
Did you start the fight or did they'"
They did
"One thing more. this purchase of the
firm of Schofield. Schurmer & Tengle, in
Cleveland. You were conducting the nego-
tiations?"
Il was
Tell US about the circumstances We're
you anxious to buy il. or what?'
They offered to sell It to us. We did not
want the property.
The witness said that he could not say
whether previously their relations had been
amicable because he did not come In con-
tact with the firms. The purchase was
made when a specific offer to sell was made.
That's ALL said Mr.. Milburn.
Mr.. Tiiford. about this Rocky Mountain
oil company, said Mr.. Kellogg. which had
this competitive struggle in 1892 That con-
Germ, you said was an Offshoot OF the
United Oil Company?
Yes. sir
NO other concern except yours was SELL
ing oil in that state (Colorado)?'
mo. sir
so that you had clear fe'd?"
Yes, sir
The witness said that in his belief the
Rocky Mountain oil Company had cut
down the price of oil first. and then, per-
hap5. the Continental followed.
The Continental sold oil below 10 cents.
didn't they?"
II think sol don't know
Did they sell it below cents?'
Il don't know; 1 can't recall"
And after the struggle was over you put
the price of oil up, didn't your
Il don't know what we did"
We'll, you sold all the oil in that terri
tory, and you must have put it up. didn
you?"
Prices During Competition.
Il suppose
In places where there is competition you
sell as low as cents, don't you?"
Il don't know"
You have never heard that-from any of
your men. for instance?"
The witness said that he could not recall
the details of the Schoield. Schurmer &
Tengle purchase.
Returning to the Pennsylvania oil story,
Mr.. Kellogg brought out that crude OIL ran
gallons TO the Darrei, Wnere re-
fined oil was fifty gallons to the barrel a
circumstance that modified the apparent
dsproportion of the Standards purchases
from and sales to these independent re-
fneries. He proved, also, that the Stand
ard had not marketed Oil for these refin-
cries before their supply of crude oil was
cut down. and that since the agreement the
Standard had marketed the bulk of their
export oil
They got their trade oil from you and
they were compelled to sell their export oil
to you?"
They weren't compelled"
But they did sell it to you?'
Yes. SIR
On further examination the witness adj
mitted that the Standard owned 80 per cent
of the Pure Oil ComDany's stock, but he
denied that he knew the Standard had tried
to get control of it This Pure Oil Com
pany was mentioned by Tilford in Thurs
days testimony as an export company COM
peting with the Standard OIL Company of
New York. Taking up the other companies
mentioned in the same way by Tilford. Mr.
Kellogg developed that the amount of their
export business was inconsiderable SO far
1t competed with the Standard Oil Com
pany as much of their product went to
other destinations.
The witness was then excused.
Witness Is Forgetful.
John Bensinger took the stand. He was
one of the liqu.Gating trustees, and acted as
transfer agent of the trustees until 1901.
Will you explain what books you kept?'
"a regular set of stock books
Did you see the stock books of the
trustees?"
Yes sir"
THE trustees had a regular stock ledger
and stock certificate books?'
why. yes"
That ledger showed the precise issue of
stocks and to whom issued?"
Yes, sir
do you remember whether you opened
a set of books or not?'
II don't remember whether I kept the old
books or started new SET
The witness developed an acute case of
loss of memory at this point After much
questioning he admitted that the stock
ledger would contain list of the assign
ments of stock and give the names of the
persons to whom stock was assigned. Mr.
Kellogg obtained from him the name of his
assistant F. d. Stedman, and added an
other name to the list of persons to be sub
penaed. The witness admitted that at the
time he left his position in 1902 the books
were all intact. After testifying that he
had no connection with the company now
and had had none since 1901. lie was ex-
cused.
Adjournment was then taken until this
afternoon.