Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1907 — On Trusts Spy Methods. [ARTICLE]

On Trusts Spy Methods.

While hunting for.some explanation of the big loans shown on the books of the Standard Oil Company for last year Government’s Counsel Kellogg brought to light the trust's system of spying, known ns the “statistical department.” It was the purpose of this department to keep tab on all sales by rivals through an intricate spy system; It keeps a record of every barrel, can or tank car load which has btyn taken from the oil fields by competitors, and traces this oil to the market, with each charge for transportation and the final selling price noted. .Another device employed by the, Standard is that of the dummy company, which masquerades ns an independent concern and is moved from one field to another, its business being to cut prices under real competitors of the Standard.