The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-11-21

Z ldtlOnS maze upon the stand hY the
{ Standard oil magnate show that ne
IS Is amenakle TO the criminal clause In
> the sherman antitrust law. the de-
u partment OF justice will be con
II fronted with the technical question
I OF whether Mr. Rockcfellors testi->
: mony I'm the civil suit even though
he was subpenaed by the defense.
{ absolves him from further criminal
s action.
NEW YORK, Nov 20-John y.
Rockefeller was put through rigid
examination today by Frank Is. Kel-
lOgg, the governments "trust-buster. ="
in the suit TO dissolve the Standard Oil
Co. OF New Jersey. Mountains OF gold
were recounted by the head Of the
Standard Oil Co. II was shown that
the company had paid In dividends
nearly $600,000.000 down To 1907 on al
original investment of $69000.000 and
has a surplus OF S300.000.00.
Ii was brought out at today's hear
ing that the net earnings OF the oil
octopus in 1907 were about $50. 100000
and that Il paid a dividend OF 40 per
cent during that year
The gh-priced lawyers for the rich
est trust in the world seem to
have stolen march on Uncle
Sam and his trust busters" in that
Mr. Kellogg will not be permitted "a
Cross-examine the head Of the gigantic
monopoly as to events that occurred
after 1882.
Ii was In 1882 that the trust agree
ment was entered into by Mr.. Rookie
Teller and his associates Up TO that
time IL was the Standard Oil Co. OF
Ohio. Mr.. Rockefeller has already
told how he and his company dealt
fairly to man and woman. 10 rich rival
and street corner competitor Mr..
I Rockefeller and his lawyers managed
to get the exciting history OF the com
pany which he was unfolding stopped
after the Standard became an actual
trust
Mr. Kellogg plunged at once into hi;
REORGANIZATION when the oil king
took the stand.
o. believe you stated .aIr Rockc.
| Teller. that the oil business was ~ bust
ness of great hazard?
Ayes.
Q-The element OF that hazard
which you mention was the uncer
tainty Of production?
Ayes.
Asked Il the oil production this year
was not the largest in the history Of
the country. Mr.. Rockefeller replied:
1T is many times greater now than
ever before. The general production
today IS much larger than when | was
actively in business"
Q-You say the oil business is ex-
fra al ~ nrI, No, 4
a business hazardous that has since
1917 increased its capital stock S6l..
100000 and added TO its earnings 1891,
100000, besides having surplus of
$500. GOO, 900?
Al do not consider that the ques
ton OF the amount made determines
whether business is hazardous or
not.
Q--You have then. according to the
record in evidence, paid out in div.
dends. up to and including 1906. s55l.-
92290f50. What were the dividcnds
for the year 1907?
Al cannot state.
Q-What was the dividends in 1907 d?
Al cannot state / should saw
they were about what they had been
for the past two years.
In voice hardly above a whisper
Mr.. Rockefeller added
Forty per cent
Q-About $4,000 600?
A-Perhaps. That might lie about
a million in favor of the poor old
Standard Oil Co
MIR. Rockefeller smiled grimly at his
own little joke.
Q-What were the net earnings APP
proximately for 1907?
Al could not state should think
they were around sS0.000.O0O
Q-Now, 1t appears Standard Oil
trustees and the Standard oil Co.
have. down TO 1907 paid dividends on
the certificates and the stock, amount
ing TO 1891 25S GOO In round numbers
and has a surplus of about $500, 600
900 besides, on an original investment
of $50 100000. Now, do you think tina.
is a risky business?
There was another big laugh at this
question. Mr.. Milburn and Mr.. Rosen.
thai were quickly on their feet with
objections. but Mr.. Rockefeller was
required to answer.
Il think the question OF profits does
not determine the question OF whether
this IS a hazardous business"
Q-Now. then Mr. Rockefeller, will
you tell me what hazard there is in the
oil business?
Hereupon Mr.. Rockefeller launched
into quite a lengthy speech, becoming
oratorical
"In the first place, Mr.. Kellogg. since
the construction OF our first refinery,
near so years ago. We have been pre-
pared any moment, day or night. =
hear the fire alarms. We are dealing
with a very explosive product From
the crude oil itself. and In the very
first process OF distillation. fires are
constantly occurring. The destruction
of the property and the places OF dis
tribution from the beginning has been
a possible contingency that we have
had always to be prepared for"
Dwell you've Weakened up great
many days. haven't you, and found the
supply still there?
There was another laugh. MIR.
Rockefeller leaned forward still fur.
Their. and in an impressive voice. re.
plied:
Yes. and I am very grateful for'f,
assure YOU"
Q-Mr. Milburn yesterday called
your attention TO an agreement you
had with the Pennsylvania Railroad
Co. dated Oct. II. 1877. wherein the
railroad company agreed to pay you