The Nevada County picayune., 1908-11-26
JOHN ). ADMITS REBAT|NG.
REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS CONCERNING DETAILS OF
 TRUST FORMATION.
PROFITS WERE ENORMOUS
Rockefeller Says Danger of Fire Is Constant and for Half Century He Has Listened for Alarms.
 Calls Business Hazardous.

ment suit to dissolve the Standard Oil Co., faced an unceasing fire ot questions from the federal counsel, Frank B. Kellogg, and when adjourn ment was taken until Monday, the head of the oil combine was still be- ing cross examined on the charges that the company in it's early days ac- cepted rebates to the disadvantage of it's rivals.
 Mr. Roekefeller's cross examination will probably not be concluded until late Tuesday as Mr Kellogg made it known that he would question Mr. Rockefeller on every detail of the company's business.
 The enormous earning power of the oil combination was sharply brought out in Fridays hearing, when Mr. Rockefeller after stating that the Standard had paid dividends amount ing to $40,000,0 900 in 1907 said it had earned as much more and this was added to the company's surplus, which was stated by the governments counsel to be three hundred million.
 It was further declared by Mr. kel- logg that the company within the last eight years had earned nearly half a billion dollars.
 Course Not So Smooth.
 The course of Mf ROCkefeller's testimony in the hands of govern ments counsel ran not smoothly as on Thursday when he told his story under direction of friendly counsel but the rapid fire interrogations of the pro secutor were always met with un. shaken imperturbability and readiness 10 answer. except when as he ex plained:
 Tt is quite impossible for me to remember after thirty-fiye years. I do not recall"
 MT Rockefeller was questioned closely regarding rebates which the Standard was charged with receiving but with the exception of the agree ment with the Pennsylvania Railroad which Mr Rockefeller explained gave the Standard a rebate because it eff fected an equalization of oil ship ments, MT Rockefeller could not re- call any other rebate though he thought it was likely that he might have heard of il al the time
 The Standard Oil counsel when he learned that the government counsel would not be able to conclude the 1i,,u ioy {o,h suggested an adjournment until Mon day which was agreed to
 Following a little preliminary skir- mish, designed 10 give the oil king the opportunity to get on the records as declaring once more that he is not now actively engaged in the oil business. Attorney Kellogg plunged at the heart of Mir. Rockefeler's direct testimony
 Do you consider hazardous, Mr Rockefeller, any business which start ing in 1882 with a capital of scr 900. 900, has paid dividends of s591 ,00O, 900 and accumulated surplus of over s30O,000,o002' asked MT Kellogg learning forward to catch the answer. if it chaneed to be whispered
 ''l do not consider that the amount of money made in any business has anything 10 do with whether 1t is haz- ardous, replied MT Rockefeller with deliberate calm that coaxed a mur- mur of approval from the interested audience.
 Refuses 10 Answer Questions
 The stubborn resistance to the gov ernment's effort 10 wrest the time honored secrets from the archives of the Standard Oil company was clearly developed
 Three times Mir. Rockefeller was asked successiyely certain questions concerning the apportionment of cash property and trust certificates since the promulgation of the trust agree ment in 1882.
 decline to answer unless counsel for the government insists. in which case l will answer" was the stereo- typed reply of the witness in each case.
 Attorney Kellogg repeated his re- queSt pu' was interrupted by Attorney Milburn
 MT. Rockefeller will answer no questions that he is not compelled to- said the attorney. Later. however, he said the witness might answer. but Attorney Kellogg had struck new lead, and declined to press his point.
 Calling attention to extracts from the record of the Standard Oil Co. Attorney Kellogg pointed out that the original capitalization of sG9 .OOO. .OO0 represented property worth s5G.O00.. 900 and trust certificates aggregating in value $13,000,000
 Big Dividends Paid.
 The record shows that up to 1906 the net earnings of the company were $55l l,922904. What was the dividend in l907?" asked Mir. Kellogg.