The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-29

winch ne was supposed to be in charge.
If anything McKinley's memory was
more faulty than that of Richie
Mckinley stated that he had taken
charge Of the sales department of the
Uncle Sam Oil company during the fall
or 1905. Previous to that he had been
In the employ of the International Har-
vester company as an expert and block
man at a salary of SIS a month and
expenses. He continued in charge of
this department until April, 1907. or
about the time that the company was
declared a bankrupt and placed in the
hands of a receiver.
He stated that he had commenced to
make the appointment of agents to sell
oil in the fall of 1905 but he couldn't
tell how many agents were given en-
ployment because they were being ap-
pointed all the time.
He gave it as his opinion that some
81 or 33 active agencies were finally
established and selling oil in 1906.
the agents were given a straight sal
airy of $50 per month and a commission
of one and one-half cents per gallon
on every gallon of oil sold
Mckinley didn't remember whether
the agents furnished reports as to the
amount of oil each month or not but
he thought they did, he was of the
opinion that they furnished monthly
statements showing whether the agen-
cies had been operated at a profit or a
loss for that extent of time, but he
didn't exactly recollect.
What did you sell the OIL at to the
agents? 81
1T believe it was something like 6
that figure. -
Did you ever have your sales books
balance?" 50
II don't remember"
did Mr.. Tucker ever ask you for a
statement concerning their agency
sales, whether they were making a
profit or not?' @sa+ - 70
It am. unable to say. I think Mr.
Tucker knew all about what was going
on though"
your office? Did you have a journal
cash book and a ledger?'
81 don't know whether journal and
a ledger was kept or not. 1 think
cash book was kept. I know when I
kept the books I had a cash book
"Well this man was working in your
office wasn't he? He was acting under
your orders?''
, Yes, SIR"
: DO you mean to say that you don't
know whether this man was keeping
these books or not?"
well, 1 didn't pay any attention.
knew some books were being kept but
1 don't remember about those things,
1 couldn't say for sure whether ledger
and a journal and these other books
Are you able to state whether that
cash book was ever balanced or not?"
II don't believe I am
did you ever keep any ledger ac-
count with the separate agencies?"
IT think I did"
"Did Mr.. Tucker ever look at those
accounts?"
st couldn't say. He was there and
looking at books, but I don't know
whether he was looking at those par
ticular books or not
He stated that he had never fur
nished reports from his office cover
ing the details to Tucker.
care you able to state whether the
sales department made profit or
loss?"
ct think it made a profit
''Can you tell how much?"
mo, 1 don't believe so.''
He stated that he thought he was
sure that the sales department had
never been operated at a loss. At
the beginning Of his testimony he
thought that for time prior to the
establishment of all of the agencies
and at the inception of the depart
ment a loss was encountered.
When asked for the charges per
gallon which was estimated in arriv-
ing at the fixing of sale price, he
gave the following figures
Refining y cents per gallon; one
half cent per gallon for freight
charges; one and one-half cent to the
agent plus the $50 per month paid
as salary.
''Then the oil was sold to the agent
at cents per gallon was it 81
cit seems to me We made some sort
of an invoice of that kind said Nc
Kin1ey very cautiously.
He stated that for a time the Oil
had been retailed at cents per gal
lon, but later it was cut to TX cents.
How many barrels of oil did the
company refine up until the bank
ruptcy proceedings?"
st don't recollect exactly.
''We1l. approximately. Can't you
tell within 10000 barrels?"
ct don't remember right now. 1
don't like to make a guess on It,
He stated that in the summer of
1906 few barrels of gasoline had
been purchased and sold again. He
couldn't remember of having heard
of any complaint from the superin-
tendent of the Cherryvale refinery
that the sales department could not
dispose of all of the refined article
and that the refinery was forced to
close down for a time.
Cant you tell how many car loads
of refined oil within say 100 car loads
were sold by the sales Department.
don't remember. couldn't tell