Omaha daily bee., 1907-07-07
PRATT TELLS OF EARNINGS
Standard of New Jersey Makes Two
Hundred Million in Three Years.
OWNS INDIANA CORPORATION
IL Also Owns Union Tank Line Come
pany-william Rockefeller Not
Asked TO Testify--COurt
Room Crowded.

the United States district court today
while Judge Lands piled him with aues-
tions regarding the financial strength and
the business methods OF the corporation
OF which he is the head.
Mr. Rockefeller was a very willing and
an equally unsatisfactory witness. He was
ready to tell all that he knew. but he said
that he knew practically nothing. The
net result of his examination was, that he
I believed that during the years 1908, 1904 and
1906, the period covered by the indictments
on which the Standard. OIL company OF In
diana was recently convicted, the not prof.
It's of the Standard OIL company Of New
Jersey was approximately forty per cent
of an outstanding capitalization OF 500.
O00,000. The investigation held today by
Judge Lands was instituted by him for
the express purpose of determining whether
or not the Standard OIL company of Indiana
which was convicted OF violation of the law
was really owned by the Standard Oil COM
pany OF New Jersey, whether the Union
Tank Line. whose cars were used for the
shipments made In violation OF the law was
similarly owned, and also TO obtain an Idea
OF the financial resources OF the convicted
corporation in order to inhict fine propor-
toned to the defense and the assets OF
the convicted company. ,rss
It was stated by officers OF the standard
OH company OF New Jersey that II owned
the greater part of the stock OF both the
Union Tank Line and the Standard on
company OF Indiana. Specific figures as
to the earnings Of the parent corporation
were given by Charles M. Pratt, It's sec
retary, and they we're close to the esu-
mate given by Mr.. Rockefeller.
Court Room IL Packed.
The prospective appearance in court OF
the man reputed to be the richest In the
world brought a spectacle the like OF
which has never been witnessed In the
vicinity of the Chicago court room. The
hour set for the appearance OF Mr.. Rookie
feller was 10 o'clock and an hour before
that time the low-ceiled hallway outside
the court room door wes denseiy packed
by a crowd all of whom were anxious to
obtain seats and hear the testimony.
large squad OF deputy mGrshals under the
direction Of United States Marshal Hoy
and a number OF police were on hand. bus
even they were unable, at times, to control
the crowd The people pushed and showed
and at time by sheer weight actually bore
the police and deputies down the hail
The crowd was so dense that frequent
cries for assistance were heard and people
franticaily begged for release from the
pressure to which they were subjected,
John d. Rockefeller and william 'Rocke-
automobile OF Harold r. Mccormick. the
son-in-law OF Mr. Rockefeller, at $50
O'Clock. The party crossed the street to
the ofices OF the Standard OIL company In
the Commercial National bank building and
after remaining there a short time went
to the federal building where larso
crowd had collected. So curious were the
peopie to see Mr.. Rockefeller that Il was
necessary for twenty policemen to use force
IN pushing back the crowd to make paths
way for him. On the steps of the federai
building the party was compelled to hat
while the police fought with the crowd.
Five local detectives and number OF
secret service men gathered closely around
Mr. Rockefeller to protect him from the
crush or from possibly injury at the hands
OF some crank.
Mr Rockefeller did not seem at all dis
turbed by the sensation he excited ana
after the road had been cleared ne anu
william Rockefeller. closely attended pv
tba oascers. entered the building and made
ltheir way TO the elevators on the north SIDE.
. Here a car devoid Of lights. was under
the special guard Of the police, and enter
ing II Mr. Rockefeller was quickly taken
to the sixth floor Of the building ana 70
the court room. He was shown seat 20
the left OF the judges desk and was wen
noticed. There was considerabls SAattss
,,ent among the crowd and some confusion
rssulted from the efforts made by ali the
snectators 10 obtain a quick view OF hinl
ne looked around with some curiosity for
| norent ana then commenced a whispered
Conversation with one Of his attorneys
standard OIL Case Called.
yvhsn the standard oil investigation was
J called the attorneys for the company to-
gather with those of the company, stepped
10 the front Of Judge lands desk Here
Attorneys Miller and ROsenthal, counsel for
the company, made an earnest plea that Ars
Rockefener be excused from the stand.
They explained to the judge that he could
give no Information which could NOT Dc
better obtained from some other source.
Thev declared they could. in fact, tell
nothing OF what the judge desired 70 know.
The Judge, however, refused 70 vaeate the
subpoena and insisted that MT. Rockefeller
should take the stand and testify 10 the
hest OF his ability. Attorney Miller for
the company offered the objection TO the
. innpendinR proceedings that they were -
t,relv out OF the Jurisdiction OF the court
Judge Lands overFuled the motion
Mr.. Miner then declared that the defsnSo
objected TO every question put to every
witness during the proceedings The Judge
replied;
''Dach and every objection Is overruled
ana an exception allowed"
Alton Agent Called First.
Frederick A. Wann. the former general
, freight agent OF the Chicago a Alton rail-
road was then called and questioned re-
gardins the rate AZ which on should have
, been shipped from whitins. md. TO East
] ST. Louis.
. The witness replied that he had issued
Instructions for 10 cent rate. After some
, further queries relating to tariffs and tariff
sheets the witness was excused and Harry
! u Felton president Of The Union Tank
Llne took ths stanA
Hs was AAksd q hs knsW Anksha1S Aeegs