Evening journal., 1908-11-19

AS A WITNESS
Tells Of an Agreement Made
TO Insure Higher
Prices
HAD A LARGE MAJORITY
OF THE PRODUCERS
BY United Press Leased Special v7rs-

BY United Press Leased Speclai Wlf8
NEW YORK. Nov. i9.-Brought to
bay by the governments stroke at the
vitals OF the worlds greatest corpor-
alton. John ID. Rockefeller. supreme
dictator Of the Standard Oil. purred
soft answers to the considerate ques-
tlons Of his own counsel when the
hearing was resumed before United
States Commissioner Ferris at the
custom house this morning The larg-
er room 20 which the hearing has been
transferred owing 10 the enormous
crowd Of newspaper men and specta-
tors was packed 10 suffocation long
before the director OF the oil trust
arrived with Attorneys Milburn and
Rosenthal
With evident solicitude for the COM
fort of the witness, counsel waited
patiently while Mr.. Rockefeller delIb-
erately made preparations for the i'm
pending ordeal OF severe questioning.
Il want TO ask you" began Attor-
ney Milburn after Mr. Rockefeller had
signihed his readiness. whether or
not the uncertainty of the cost and
supply OF the raw material had any
bearing upon the expansion Of the
Standard OIL Company OF Ohio2"
1T most certainly did" replied the
witness with pronounced attention to
I the choice OF his words. 1T exerted a
great deal Of influence at that time
aud still continues TO have an import
ant bearing upon all our operations"
With minute attention TO details Mr..
Rockefeller explained the organization
OF the Reilners Association.
This association OF refiners." he
said, was formed for the purpose OF
conserving the supply OF crude oil"
You had a common interest" ques-
toned the attorney
"Oh, certainly" answered Mr.. Rookie
feller. I'VE desired to work In har-
mony, preventing antagonism between
; the producer and the refining inter-
csts"
Early In 1879 the witness explain
] ed, "tho need OF a better understands =
} Ing among the producers OF crude oil
resulted in the formation OF an agree
ment"
What was the.purpose Of this agree
q ment'
ITO make sure OF higher price FOR
. the crude oil and maintain the sta
bility Of the markety replied Mr.
, Rockefeller. II also had the effect OF
preventing an over production Of the
: raw material"
How many producers were repre-
sented in that agreement"
, Il do not think I could say exactly,
but II was very respectable majority"
Z Agreement Short Lived.
d Mr Rockefeller said the agroem ent
was short lived owing TO the failure
4 OF many OF the subscribers to adhere
\ 10 its provisions
/ Under the vigilant guidance OF At
I torney Milburn the witness related the
. purchase Of the refining plant and dock
y property of the Long Island Rohnine
I Company.
This was the final venture Of the
Standard oil Company IN the refining
Of oil for export. hc said
4 The absorption OF the Dc Voc Re-
q lining Company's property. another
q Long Island institution was next ex-
= planned by Mr. Rockefeller
q What was the business of the Ds
a Voc Company asked Attorr(y Nil.
burn.
They were engaged i'm the canning
- Of oil and had developed a very ex
q cellent business in Europe" replied
4 the witness
Mr.. Rockefeller then told Of the pur-
chase Of the Harvey Refinery at Louis
vile.
Harvey & Company" he said. had
n developed a very good domestic busi-
# ness particularly IN the south."
l. What WIS your object In purchasing
. It's refinery
"fo increase our market and give
~ better outlet for the product OF ouI
Il rehneries"