The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1907-09-18
HEARING FINALLY ON
Taking Of Testimony Begins in
Standard Oil Case.
MUCH INFORMATION SOUGHT

MUCH INFORMATION SOUGHT
Attorney Kellogg, for the Government,
Questions Witnesses at Length Re.
earding the Methods of the Octopus
and Subsidiary Companies.
New York, Sept 1S.-Profits aggre-
eating S499, 1874 We're made by the
Standard Oil company in the seven
years from 1899 to 1906 Testimony
to this effect was given by Assistant
Comptroller Fay of the company in
the federal hearing here. In the same
period the company's gross assets in
creased from 5000. .791 ,62s to $371,664,.
531. This is the first time the COM
pany's earnings have been made pub
lie.
New York, Sept 1S--Taking of tes.
timony was begun during the day In
the federal suit against the Standard
OH company of New Jersey. The
hearing here in the federal suit, which
was brought in st. Louis last Deem
Der, has twice been adjourned at the
request of counsel for the defendants.
In the meantime, however, Frank b.
kellogg, who is in charge OF the gov,
ernment's case, has obtained many
books and papers from the Standard
Oil company, which has enabled him
to proceed expeditiously with the case.
Mr. Kellogg intimated that the gov
ernment would also inquire into the
character and nature of holdings OF
the Standard Oil company OF New
Jersey, as we'll as Its affiliations, IL
any with railroads.. The United States
government has named not only the
Standard Oil company of New Jersey
as defendant but also S. renty sub
sidiary companies of the main cor
poration and the following individ-
uals: John ID. Rockefeller. William
Rockefeller, Henry H. Rogers, Henry
shy tdS3lEl, OIiNCl H. ShoAASS
NJ Pratt and John ID. Archbold. Only
William g. Rockefeller and Charles
NJ Pratt have been subpoenaed to APP
pear before the hearing, though Mr..
Kellogg may subpoena the others
later.
Benedict the First Witness.
When the hearing was called be-
fore former Judge Franklin Ferriss,
sitting as special master, E. c. Bene-
dict of Greenwich, Conn, was called
as the first witness. Questioned by Mr..
kellogg Mr.. Benedict said that he and
Anthony M. Brady, as the Manhattan
Oil company, had an oil producing
plant near Galatea, o. Mr. Benedict
said that there was a pipe line con-
nected with the company.
Refreshing his memory from slip
of paper he said that In October. 1898,
he sold 1,175 shares Of Manhattan oil
stock at 500 share. He could not
recall who was the purchaser of the
stock, but after further questioning
Mr. Kellogg brought out the fact that
the Standard Oil company now con-
trolls the Manhattan company.
Charles NJ Pratt, director OF the
Standard Oil company, followed Mr.,
Benedict on the witness stand. Mr..
Pratt said he had been an officer OF
the Standard Oil company since 1893
is now secretary and has charge OF
the company's books. Mr.. Kellogg
showed the witness list of securities
held by the Standard Oil company on
Sept. IA, 1907, which had been fur
nished on subpoena by the company
Mr. Pratt said the list was made up In
the comptroller's Office and he could
not say whether the statement shown
him was correct or not
"As secretary OF the Standard Oh
company do you know anything about
its acquisitions of other companies? !?
he was asked.
Much Information Sought.
mot necessarily" replied Mr.. Pratt
who further stated that his knowledge
of the company's holdings was onl,
general. Asked IL the Standard Oi
company controlled the Ohio Oil com
pany the witness replied that 1t did
Mr.. Pratt said that the STANDARD
owned 1891 shares Of stock OF tn
Solar Refining company, which was
all but six shares OF the company!
entire stock issue. Mr.. Kellogg theI
asked Mr.. Pratt to produce statement
showing the officers and directors
the STANDARD Oil company and OF al
its subsidiary companies, togethe
with the officers and directors OF al
companies in which the Standard o.
company had stock interest. Nj
Kellogg also asked for q statement Q
capitalizations Of the various com
ranies.
Mr.. Pratt, referring to his duties i
the Standard Oil company, said tina
he was an officer OF the Standard @
company Of Kentucky. whose prir
cipal business was the distribution Z
oil south OF the Ohio river. He sal
the Kentucky company obtained y
oil chiefly from the Standard Oh con
pany OF Indiana.
fr Kellnrr questioned the Wltnoa