The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-20
Mr.. Jackson Asks Standard
Some PuZZlers.
Wants Names of All the
Stockholders.
OTHER COMPANIES TOO
Seeks for Owners of Prairie Oil
and Gas Co.
Also Other Concerns Said to Be
Allied to Standard.

Interrogatories in the antitrust suits
against the Standard Oil company of
Indiana, the Standard OIL company of
Kan-es and the Prairie Oil & Gas
company. were filed today in the SUI
preme court. and similar interroga-
tories in the case against the Interna-
ttonal Harvester company will be filed
this afternoon Some time next week
interrogatories will be filed in the mil
lers' trust suit.
Justice Silas Porter. before whom
Assistant Attorney General John DaW-
son went to present his motions. set
the hearing for the application on
August s.
+ In addition to the interrogatories. a
motion was filed to require each OF
the companies named to produce GER
tain books and papers relating to the
business Of the company.
This interrogatory system is old to
the equity courts of the country, but
new to the Kansas state law. 1t was
provided for by the bill prepared last
winter by the attorney generals de-
partment, and introduced in the sem
ate by Senator George Tucker. This
bill, after being bitterly fought by the
corporations in both branches, was
finally passed in mutilated form, and
was ready to go to the governor. This
bill was mysteriously lost. and
everybody was hunting wildly for it.
1t was a period of suspense for the
chief clerks of the house and senate,
but finally the bill turned up safe. 1t
is said to have been in the possession
of a we'll known corporation hireling,
and would never have been heard of
again IL its loss had not been discover
ed In time
In the cases against the Standard
OIL company of Indiana, and the
Standard Oil company of Kansas. the
tnterrogatorfes are very much the
same. There are % questions for the
for the Standard OIL Of Kansas, and Sc
for the Prairie Oil & Gas company.
Some of the questions asked of the
Prairie Oil & Gas company are as fol-
lows:
State the names of the officers and
board of directors of the Prairie Oil &
Gas company?
Give the names of all the stockholders
stating the number of shares held by
each, how long SO held and from whom
acquired?
State the entire amount of the capt.
tai stock of the Prairie OH & Gas COM
pary?
what relation, business connection, or
other association, If any, has each of
the officers and stockholders of the
Standard Oil company of New Jersey or
any of the constituent and associate
companies?
Is not practically all the stock of the
Prairie Oil & Gas company held in the
name of the National Transit company?
Is not the National Transit company
a Standard Oil agency and entirely
owned and controlled by the Standard
Oil company of New Jersey?
Does not the National Transit COM
pany hold the stock fog the use and
benefit of the Standard Oil company of
New Jersey or its stockholders?
hot nr1c Of ~ Ma
are fixed the prices which the Prairie
Oil & Gas company from time to time
shall pay for crude oil purchased by 1t
from the producers thereof.
From whom does the Prairie Oil &
Gas company purchase crude oil?
Does the Prairie Oil & Gas company
own oil wells in the state of Kansas?
From what source do the managing
agents Of the Prairie Oil & Gas COM
pany in Kansas receive instructions
relative to the prices to be paid for
crude oil?
What proportion Of the crude oil
produced IN Kansas oil fields was pur-
chased by the Prairie Oil & Gas COM
1905 and 1906?
What proportion did that amount
constitute, including the product of
the company's own wells, of the en-
tiro product produced and sold in the
state Of Kansas in the years mem
toned?
To what persons or corporations do
thu Prairie Oil & Gas company dis
pose OF their refined products?
In what manner does the Standard
OIL company of Indiana settle with the
Prairie OIL & Gas company for the
refined products furnish to it?
Is It not fact that the prices to be
paid by the Prairie OIL & Gas COM
pany for crude oil are all fixed by the
officers, representatives or other
agencies of the Standard OIL comDanv
Of New Jersey?
Are not the prices which the Prairie
OIL & Gas company obtains for its re-
fined products fixed by the same per-
sons?
Is It not true that at certain times
the Prairie Oil & Gas company has en-
4irely ceased the purchase of crude oil
from any private producers thereof in
Kansas?
Is it not a fact that at other times
there has been partial cessation of
said purchases?
BY whom. from what place. and in
what manner were the Instructions Civ
en- for said cessation and partial cessa-
ton?
Is it not true that the Prairie OIL &
Gas company has private telegraph
wire communication from its general
Offices in Kansas with the managing Of
fees of the Standard Oil company of
New Jersey at 26 Broadway, New York
city?
Is not this wire owned and operated