Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-07-07

they were inaudible ten feet from
his chair. Before making any re-
ply to the questions OF the court
the witness invariably had his eyes
upon his attorneys as IL waiting to
see whether or not they desired to
oppose or reject. Once satisfied on
this point he answered promptly.
The first question put by Judge Lam
dis was:
Mr.. Rockefeller, have you any
official connection with the Standard
Oil Company of New Jersey?' Il
II am president, but the position
is purely honorary and has been for.
the last eight or ten years, as have.
not been rendering any service. z
DO you know about what the out
standing capital stock Of the Stan
dard Oil Company of New Jersey
is?,'
Before the witness could answer
the question Attorney Miller offered
an objection, declaring that the
court had no right or power to in
quire into the matter against the
provisions Of the constitution of the
United States. Judge Lands over
ruled the objection and the witness
replied: fs$1
Il think that it is about 100000 900
outstanding; could not state definite
ly, your honor $5
Approximately sl0O,Ooo,O00,' asked
the court.
| THAT is my idea, yes sir; approx
mately $1O0,OO0,000 of outstanding"
Generally speaking what is the bus
mess of the Standard Oil Company
of New Jersey in production, distri-
button and sale Of oil 2"
| Well, your honor, have been so
long out of business and out of this
business, it is dozen years since
have been at all actively related
| with the affairs of the company It is
| eight years, your honor, since I have
| been in the office at all"
| what is your general impression as
to what the business of the Standard
Oil Company of New Jersey is?'
They have refinery and refine oil,
that was the--yes-it would be i'm
possible for me to giveto make an
without study of the case
Have you an impression as to whe-
Their or not the Standard Oil Company
4 of New Jersey operates indirectly
more than one oil refinery?''
Attorney Miller objected to the
question as going beyond the reach II
any statement regarding either the
Information desired by the court or
the purpose Of that information which
he said he understood had to do with
i the fixing Of a fine. He declared that
it had been widely published that the
government had a purpose in the pre-.
sent investigation to develop evidence
j for another case on trial in Missouri
What do you mean by purpose?'
asked Judge Lands, sharply.
Il use the words have seen in the
newspapers" said the attorney.
What do you mean by the use Of
the words the government? i wish
i to state that the government has moth
| ing to do with this inquiry
4 Attorney Miller replied that he in
i tended no insinuation, but believed
| that the present investigation should
no invade case where he govern
men is prosecuting the Standard OF
A Company in another state than Illinois
and where the information was not o
Importance in connection with thu
case at issue before Judge Lands. Thu
court declared that he was seeking Il
ascertain the wealth Of the corpora
! ton holding the stock of the STANDARD
! Oil Company Of Indiana which was re
. Gently convicted of rebatting.
! The question of Rockefeller wa
+ then resumed by the judge.
Have you any recollection, MI
Rockefeller, that the Standard Oh
= Company of New Jersey is intereste
d in the refinement Of oil more than i
the refinery you have referred tor,
Il don't know what refneries ther
d are. The refining business has grow
up since my touch with its actual Of
( erations."
VI SO that you do not know
vi Il could not tell. only know Z
the operation of refneries that are /
u New Jersey by the Standard Oil Con
a pany Of New Jersey. =
DO you know Of the Standard o
i Company Of New Jersey, being inte
j. ested In the operation OF any other I
fneries through and in the name
8 the corporation whose stock is held /
Q the Standard Oil Company Of Ne VIE
d q Soy. Il