The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1908-12-08
OIL METHODS IN
WEST EXPLAINED
BY \. N. T|LFORD
Absence of "StarS" at Inquiry
Causes Attendance
to Fall Off.
ROW OVER CONTRACT.
Lost in San Francisco Disaster
and a Copy Is Offered
in Evidence.
ROW OVER CONTRACT.

Vast was the change at the hearing
Of the Governments Standard Oil case
in the Custom House this morning.
The four score of spectators that have
attended the sessions SO regularly for
the past few weeks, listening to the
evidence of John d. Rockefeller and
John u. Archbold. had disappeared. So
had more than half OF the army of re-
porters and artists that has swelled the
daily throng.
H. NJ. Tilford, the T tsident of the
Standard of California, and under whose
dominion comes the marketing and con-
troll OF the Standards Western business,
did not as a witness prove the attrac-
ton that have his two superiors. He
was recalled to the stand this morning
Lost In Earthquake.
The Governments counsel, Mr. Kel-
logs, commenced the Characterization
by asking Mr.. Tilford about the con-
tract between the Union Oil Company
and the Pacific Coast Oil Company
which Mr.. Kellogg yesterday insisted
provided for a purchase of 10000 bar
rels monthly from the Union Company
by the Pacific Coast oil Company.
The witness said that he had examined
the copy supplied him last evening by
Mr. Kellogg. but never having seen the
original, he could not swear to the con-
tents, the California earthquake having
destroyed the original.
The lawyers of both the Government
and the defendants for a time discussed
the question of the destroyed contract,
Mr.. Kellogg insisting upon verification
of it, and also claimed that Mr. Tilford
should be able to recall the various pro-
visions OF the contract. especially those
portions relating to the purchase of re-
fined oil by the Pacific Coast Oil Com
pany from the Union OIL Company.
IF man remembers il is because he
remembers, and If he forgets IT is be-
cause he forgets," declared Mr.. Rosen-
thai, defending his witnesses varying
memory, and no man can say why he
remembers or forgets"
Oil Trusts Big Business.
Mr. Kellogg wanted to know nSxt If
the Standard Oil of California did not
sell Sc per cent. of all the refined oil con-
sumed in the Pacific Coast States The
witness did not think the percentage
quite that high. He admitted that the
Standard Oil of California stored oil in
1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905.
Mr.. Kellogg In concluding his cross
examination, tried TO get the witness to
admit that the price of oil in Los An
geles had been increased after the
Standard OIL had entered into q con-
tract with the Puenita Refining Com
pany, and that in 1904. when the con-
tract expired the Puenita OIL Company
was again marketing its own oil, the
price had been dropped to nine cents
These prices. the witness would not dis
pute, but claimed the decrease had not
been due to those conditions named by
Mr.. Kellogg.
Mr.. Rosenthal took Mr.. Tilford in
hand and brought out that when the
capital of the Standard Oil of Califoi-
MIA was increased, the additional Sl6,-
100000 had been contributed in cash by
the Standard Oil of New Jersey No
dividends had been paid for six years
The company's assets. according to t.
last balance sheets showed, he recalled,
$2l,0OO,OO0.
The defense not being ready with its
witnesses TO go into the economic side
OF Its case this afternoon, an adjourn
ment was taken until tomorrow morn
ing.
It is now said that neither President
Moffett Of the Standard on Of Indiana.
nor William Rockefeller will be called
as witnesses.