The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-07-19

elapsed since its foundation 1t has
paid in dividends more than $500, 600,
900. This, too, upon a capitalization
of 500, 900, not all of which cap
ital stock has been issued. The in
vestment, however, which should be
the real basis for dividends, is even
less, being between $7S,000,000 and
$S000O,OOO.
The Standard Oil company, as now
understood, is no longer confined to
the manufacture and distribution of
petroleum and its products. That is
still a great part of its business, but
the organization of the company is so
perfect that the men who derive the
profits may devote their attention to
other matters, and for that reason the
men composing the so-Called Standard
Oil crowd are almost supreme in the
world of finance. They dominate the
railroad situation and have large in
tereSts in the public utility corpora.
tons, such as gas and electricity, of
many cities.
Of this great cOterie of Men John
D. Rockefeller is acknowledged the
dean. 1t is not that he is present
at the secret conclayes where the
great tE-ags Of finance are planned,
but his millions are. +. II. Hartman,
the railroad wizard, is credited with
delivering his most telling blows by
the aid of Standard Oil money.
These stories are hard to reconcile
with the present life of the old man
who sat in the witness chair in Judge
Lands court room.
John D. Rockefeller Testifies.
John D. Rockefeller, being sworn,
testified as follows
The Court-Mr. Rockefeller, have
you any official connection with the
Standard Oil company of New Jersey?
Al am the president, but the posi-.
ton is purely honorary, and has been
for the last eight or ten years, as
have not been rendering any service
whatever.
Q.-Do you know what the out
standing capital stock of the Stand
ard Oil company of New Jersey is?
Al think that it is about 100000
900, the outstanding. l could not state
definitely, your honor.
Q. - approximately, s1OO,O0O,00O?
A.-That is my idea, yes, sir; approx
imately $10O,O00,O0O of the outstand-
ing
Q.-Generally speaking, what is the
business Of the Standard Oil company
of New Jersey-production, distribu.
ton, and sale of oil? A
Well, your honor, as l have been
so long out of business and out of
this business | could not well answer
that question. 1t is a dozen years
since | have been at all actively re-
lated with the affairs. 1t is eight or
ten years, your honor, since | have
even been in the Office at all.
Q.-What is your general impress |
sion as to what the business of the
Standard Oil company of New Jersey |
IS? A.-They have a refinery and re-
fine oil. That was thieves. 1t would
be impossible for me to give-to make
an answer to that question intelligent
y without a study of the case.
Knows Little About Refineries.
Q.-Have you any recollection, Mr.
Rockefeller, that the Standard Oil
company of New Jersey is interested
n the refinement of oil more than in
he one refinery you have referred to?
Al do not know what refineries
here are. The refining business has
5rown up since my touch with the ac-
i've conduct of it.
$50 that you don't know? Al
Ould not tell.
Q.-That there are any-whether
here are any oil refineries in Which
he Standard Oil company of New Jer-
ey has an interest? Al only know
t the operation of refineries that are
n New Jersey by the Standard Oil
ompany of New Jersey.
Q. - Do you know of the
standard Oil company of New
ersey being interested in the
peration of any other refineries
hrOngh and in the mama of tho onr