New-York tribune., 1907-10-15
WAY OF INDEPENDENTS
.ST4ND4RD'S 4DMISSION.
II. &. Wcstcot Explains Hoe OIL
Com manu- Held Control.

The federal inQuisitors yesterday, for the frs
time since the governments suit TO dissolve th'
Standard Oil Company as a monopoly was in
stituted got hold Of an official Of the trust whC
admitted that il was Standard OILS way TO be
guile consumers into purchasing its products
by operating through alleged Independent OF
concerns IN various sections of the country.
The government attorneys have maintained
all along that the organization and operation OF
independent oil concerns were one of the ef-
fective methods employed by Standard OIL ir
getting monopoly. The practice has beer
abandoned lateiy-that is. since the suit was
started Hampton c. Westcott was the witness
who admitted as much yesterday. He is a
young looking man. who IS slated in the direc-
tory a clerk at No. 26 Broadway. but on the
stand he said he second vice-president OF
the Standard Oil Company Of Kentucky. Mr.
Westcott has charge OF the marketing of the
oil in the territory controlled by that particular
subsidiary of the Standard of New Jersey. This
territory includes. besides Kentucky the South
ern States except Texas and the Carolinas Mr..
Westcott has been identified with the company,
whose main offices are in Covington KY. since
1891 and has held his present position since
1900
BY detailed questioning in regard to various
companies in the states controlled by the Stand
ard OF Kentucky as also in Ohio and Indiana.
Frank p. Kellogg found out from Mr.. Westcott
that these companies had been really in
dependent. When they fell the way of the
Standard oil they sometimes continued 10 do
business as independents" unless the new
owners decided their plants might as we'll be
dismantled and the business consolidated with
that Of the Standards own companies.
Mr.. Westcott testified, however. that the
preservation Of secrecy in regard 10 the real
ownership Of certain independents had been
discontinued some time age, practically at the
same time the Standards officials learned that
the government knew just what Independent
companies were not independent.
As in the case OF the Watcrs-Pierce oil Com
pany OF St. Louis and in that of the Continental
oil Company Of Iowa Mr. Kellogg a.so learned
that MI Westcott received every month from
the Standard of Kentucky statements of the
business done by that corporation IN its terri
tory. as also h" its rivals. on these reports the
percentage oS business done by tne Standard
of Kentucky ard that done by It's rivals are also
figured out, and tae reports are so detailed that
even the consieuOr aud ccG.5igase Of each ship
1nent or a rival cor9psny are given. also
the amount Of oil si3i2i,s5 aod even TIE car num-
hers.
These reports are maze out IN duplicate, the
second copy BEING sert e ne sixth floor IF the
building az 80. 26 Broadway. where ". z.
Beris IS IN charge OF the statistical department
Mr.. Benis IS a very much wanted person in the
present hearing. he has charge Of all tie
documents which give a complete ard exact
account cf the amount OF OF shipped in this
country.
When 'ast heard or by Charles ~ Pratt, sec
rctarr nf tha Standard oil Company Of New
Je-ser Hto testified some weeks ago. The inys-
terious Mr. Benlis vas travelling in the Far
East, ahout nine months ago. Mr. Westcott
said yesterday ne did not know Mr.. Bemis but
he aiwavs sent tie reports If the Standard of
Kentucky 10 him. In Ike manner. it is sup
posed bv uEe governments attorneys all SINH
lar dsta received from other Standard sub
salaries we're se5t 20 Mr.. Ben1is IN charge of
the statistical 2epa rtmert." IN this manner
Through rha assistance Of the railroad compa-
nies re Standard has always been able 20
keep ais on Ehst its rivals were doing In
RnE rar53rriar territory and guide Itself accord
ingv.
AI-e3 Il 8ra!nard, controller of tile Standard
Of Me- Jarsev aGd of several IF its more i'm
Iortart subsidiaries. asked yesterday morn
Ing b. Mr Kellogg as "a the loans Of over
S2itfA@dsn mace ny the Southern Pipe Line
Company 10 p, &. Trajnor He supposed these
loars represented Mr.. Trainor's losses on pur-
oh8ses Of Oh, but could not say for certain.
Mr.. Braiua-d also knew that James McDon-
cid was the London representative Of the
standard OIL interests ana the chairman Of the
board of directors of the 4nglo-AYnerican 81!
Company Limited. un:I two years ago but -.
couidnt tel NJ Kellogg whether The large
afrcIErs placed sg2:rst Nj H.G)or,ald's name
vere sums given him n purchase the Man
ha.tan OF CoraDsny ;rcla r. c :3enedict and
A.t:lcry = Brady
A. NJ. Rraiuard could rot explain that loan
Of S52,7l6o2o bv the Standard OF New York n
'inIe0-sts' cEher than Standard Oil but said
til statement came 10 him from III, office If
William g. Rockefeller, Air. Kellogg VIII prob
aoly put tha nephew Of John D. Rookie relier o,
the stard to-day William c. Rockefeller has
been under subpoena since the hearing in this
city was started, and counsel for the Standard
Oil Company have promised 10 have him IN
court to-day.
The earthquake in San Francisco last vaar
has interfered, it seems, with the governments
piecing together Of evidence which would sboy,
the monopoly exercised by the STANDARD oil
Company on the Pacific Coast and in the RocLy,,
Mountain states. Henry NJ. Tilford, president
IF the Standard Oil Company of California de-
clared yesterday, when asked about the WV