Page:The History of the Standard Oil Company Vol 1.djvu/194

Rh contract of March 25, 1872, provided that the rates fixed should not be "liable to any change either for increase or decrease without first giving to William Hasson, president of the Producers' Union, at Oil City, at least ninety days' notice in writing of such contemplated change." This agreement was totally ignored. It was an "insolent equalisation," the oil men concluded, and the sum total of their dissatisfaction finally found expression at a mass-meeting at Parker's Landing, on October 2. Directly after this meeting a committee appointed sent to Messrs. Scott, Vanderbilt and Jewett, the new president of the Erie, letters calling their attention to the Rutter circular, and stating the objections of the producers to it. These letters sent on October 6 received no attention from any of the railroad presidents addressed for over three weeks, when the following was received from the Pennsylvania:

"Gentlemen:—Your communication of the 6th inst., to Thomas A. Scott, president, was received, and has been referred to me.

In establishing the recent rates and arrangements for the transportation of oil, the object which was at all times kept in view was to place all interests on an equality, giving to no one an undue advantage over any other.

We believe that this object has been accomplished, and that by adhering to our present rates the interests both of the producers, refiners and transporters will be promoted."

"Brief, tardy and unsatisfactory," was the Derrick's characterisation of Mr. Cassatt's letter. It was evidence to the oil men that if anything was to be done to break the new tariff it would have to be done in court, for the railroads meant to stand by their creation.

In this discussion of the Rutter circular Mr. Rockefeller's name scarcely appeared. It was known that he had been admitted to the conferences at which the tariff was arranged. This was taken as a matter of course. There was nothing