The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-07
JOHNDROCKEFELLER
Continued from Page u

it would be impossible for him to Civ
an intelligent answer without the stud
of the case, Judge Lands then asked
i Have you any impression whether 0
not the Standard Oil Company OF Ne,
Jersey operates indirectly more thar
one oil refneryt'
I Miller objected to this question as 20
ing beyond the right OF any statemen
regarding either information desired b,
the court or purpose OF that intorma
tion which he said, be understood. hat
to do with fixing of fine. He declardl
that II had been widely published that
the government hadsa purpose in ths
present investigation to develop evidence
for another case on trial in Missouri.
What do you mean by purpose'f' =
asked lands sharply.
Il use words / have seen in the news
papers, said the attorney.
What do YOU mean by your use OF
words The governments wish to
state that the government has nothing
to do with this inquiry
Attorney Miller stated that he in.
tended no insiiaation but believed that
the present investigation should not in-
wade the case where the government is
prosecuting the Standard Oil in another
state than Illinois. and where informa-
tio is sought, was not OF Importance in
the case at issue. The court stated that
he was seeking to ascertain the wealth
of the corporation holding the stock OF
the Standard Oil Company OF Indiana.
Judge lands then resumed questioning
Rockefeller, who was unable to state
whther the Standard of New Jersey is
engaged in refining oil in other refineries
than those in New Jersey, but he pre-
sumed the stock in other refneries was
held by the Standard OF New Jersey.
Rockefeller testified that the dividends
of the Standard Oil Company OF New
Jersey for the years 1908, 1904 and 1905
were approximately 40 per cent of the
outstanding capital He could not state
what the net earnings were for those
years The court wanted to know
which of the officers could give the in.
formation desired, and Rockefeller stat
ed that undoubtedly one OF the gentle
men here under subpoena could.
Judge Landis said that Secretary
Pratt OF the Standard Oil Company and
several officers were present and asked
Rockefeller if he could give any infor-
nation. Rockefeller said that he thought
he could.
Pratt was then called, and Rockefeller
dismissed. Pratt said that RockefelIer's
estimates of outstanding capital and
dividends were correct, exact figures be-
ing within few dollars Of $9S.300,O00.
He said that the net earnings of the
company for 1903 were Ssl, 100000; for
1904 they were s6l 100000 and for 1905
a trihe over S57,000000 Pratt stated
that the properties of the Standard Oil
are worth vastly more than SlO0,OOO,OOO.
This sum, he said, is what the capital
employed in it is.
Pratt said As he understands IT, a
very large proportion Of the Standard
Oil Company of Indiana stock is held
by individuals, corporate stockholders
of the Standard Oil Company of New
Jersey.
Pratt said that he thought 1905 shares
of the Indiana Company stock was
about correct the percentage controlled
by the Standard Oil Company Of New
Jersey. He was unable to give the exact
percentage Of Union Tank Line stock
controlled by the Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey but he thought that it
controlled a majority Of the stock. The
court recalled Wann for few more
questions regarding freight rates and
schedules and then turned to the de-
PENDANTS attorneys and asked them ii
they wished to make showing that
the Standard Oil Company of New Jer-
sey had never violated the interstate
commerce laws before. Counsel said that