A. It is a matter of record.
Q. Haven't you read that the Interstate Commerce Commission did find that charge to be true?
A. No, sir; I don't think I could say that. I read that they made a decision, but I am really unable to say what that decision was.
Q. You did not feel interested enough in the litigation to see what the decision was?
A. I felt an interest in the litigation; I don't mean to say that I did not feel an interest in it.
Q. Do you mean to say that you don't know what the decision was? that you did not read to see what the decision was?
A. I don't say that; I know that the Interstate Commerce Commission had made a decision; the decision is quite a comprehensive one, but it is questionable whether it could be said that that decision in all its features results as I understand you to claim.
Q. You don't so understand it? Will you say, as a matter of fact, that none of the companies embraced within this trust have enjoyed more favourable freight rates than the companies outside of your trust? Will you say, as a matter of fact, that it is not so?
A. I stated in my testimony this morning that I had known of instances where companies altogether outside of the trust had enjoyed more favourable freights than companies in this trust; and I am not able to state that there may not have been arrangements for freight on the part of companies within this trust as favourable as, or more favourable than, other freight arrangements; but, in reply to that, nothing peculiar in respect to the companies in this association; I suppose they make the best freight arrangements they can."[1]
The committee had a vague idea that refineries outside of the Standard Combination had had a hard time to live, and asked if the trust had sought in any way to make the operations of outsiders so unprofitable that they would either have to come in or go out of the business.
"They have not; no, sir, they have not," replied Mr. Rockefeller.
"And they have lived on good terms with their competitors?"
- ↑ Report on Investigation Relative to Trusts, New York Senate, 1888, pages 420-421.
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