the trust or the companies controlled by it got transportation at any cheaper rates than was allowed to the general public, Mr. Rockefeller answered: "No, sir." As a matter of fact, the three great oil-carrying systems of the country—the Central, Erie and Pennsylvania—had all of them, for much of the period between 1872 and 1888, granted to Mr. Rockefeller rebates calculated to keep freight rates down for the Standard Oil Company and up for its competitors. Contracts and agreements to this effect are easily accessible to any one caring to investigate the quality of Mr. Rockefeller's "no." "No," said Mr. Rockefeller, "we have had no better rates than our neighbours," and then, with that lack of the sense of humour which, ethical qualities aside, is his chief limitation, he hastened to add: "But, if I may be allowed, we have found repeated instances where other parties had secured lower rates than we had."
Later in the day the committee, which seems to have known something of Mr. Rockefeller's former contracts with the railroads, returned to the subject, and the following colloquy, worthy of the study of all witnesses interested in how not to tell what you know, took place:
Q. Has not some company or companies embraced within this trust enjoyed from railroads more favourable freight rates than those rates accorded to refineries not in the trust?
A. I do not recall anything of that kind.
Q. You have heard of such things?
A. I have heard much in the papers about it.
Q. Was there not such an allegation as that in the litigation or controversy recently disposed of by the Interstate Commerce Commission, Mr. Rice's suit; was not there a charge in Mr. Rice's petition that companies embraced within your trust enjoyed from railroad companies more favourable freight rates?
A. I think Mr. Rice made such a claim; yes, sir.
Q. Did not the commission find that claim true?
A. I think the return of the commission is a matter of record; I could not give it.
Q. You don't know it; you haven't seen that they did so find?
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