The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1908-11-26
JOHN D. ADMITS RELATING
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.

hours Friday, John d. Rockefeller,
witness for the defense in the govern
ment suit to dissolve the Standard
Oil Co, faced an unceasing fire OF
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 its early days ac-
cepted rebates to the disadvantage of
It's rivals.
Mr.. Rockefeller's cross examination
will probably not be concluded until
late Tuesday, as Mr.. Kellogg made II
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 s40,0e0.O00 In 1907 said 1t 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
1t was further declared by Mr.. KEEL
logg that the company within the last
eight years had earned nearly half
billion dollars.
Course Not SO Smooth.
The cuurse of Mr. Rockefeller's
testimony in the hands Of govern.
ment's 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 we're always met with I'M
shaken imperturbability and readiness
to answer, except when as he ex-
planned:
at is quite impossible for me to
remember after thirty-hve years.
do not recall"
Mr. Rockefeller was questioned
closely regarding rebates which the
Standard was charged with receiving,
cut with the exception OF the agree
ment with the Pennsylvania Railroad
which Mr.. Rockefeller explained gave
the Standard rebate because it eff
iected an equalization OF oil ship
ments, Mr.. Rockefeller could not re-
call any Ueher rebate, though he
thought It was likely that he might
have heard of It at the time.
The Standard Oil counsel when he
learned that the government counsel
would not be able to conclude the
cross examination by Saturday night,
suggested an adjournment until Mon
day which was agreed to.
Following a little preliminary Skin.
mish, designed to give the oil king the
opportunity to get on the records as
declaring once more that he Is not now
actively engaged Ia the Oil business,
Attorney kellogg plunged at the heart
Of Mr.. RockefeIler's direct testimony.
DO you consider hazardous, Mr..
Rockefeller. any business which start.
ing In rSS2 with capital Of SCI Geo.
600. has paid dividends OF $6si.e ,oee
and accumulated a surplus Of over
43eo;osoJooo?" asked Mr.. KellogK.
learning forward to catch the answer,
II Il rhAncea to be Whispered.
a do not consider that the amount
Of money made In any business has
anything to do with whether 1t Is haz-
ardous;" replied Mr.. Rockefeller with
a deliberate calm that coaxed a muir
mUr or approval from the interested
audience.
Refuses to Answer Questions
The stubborn resistance to the gov.
ernment!s effort to wrest the time
honOred secrets from the archives Sf
the Standard Oil company was clearly
developed.
Three times Mr.. Rockefeller was
asked successfully certain questions
concerning the apportionment of cash
property and trust certificates since
the PRONUNCIATION of the trust agree
ment in 1892.
Il decline to answer unless counsel
for the government insists, in which
case I win answer" was the stereo-
typed reply of the witness in each
case.
Attorney kellogg repeated his re-
quest but was interrupted by Attorney
Milburn:
"Mr. Rockefeller villa 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 a new
lead. and declined to press his point
Calling attention TO extracts from
the record Of the Standard OIL Co.
Attorney kellogg pointed cut that the
original capitalization Of SeS, 900, COO
represented property worth e66,0O0,-
900 and trust certificates aggregating
in value 31S,eoo.OeA
Big Dividends Paid.
THE record shows that up to 1906
the net earnings OF the company were
1851. 1922, 904. What was the dividend
In 1907" asked Mr.. kellogg.
Il should say about 40 Ter cent"