Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-03-23


the oil and labels from tho cans were
secured and brought 10 San Francisco.
The samples Of oil Submitted TO an
expert, who reported after investiga-
ton that some OF the fluid FLASHED" nj
q temperature Of from 80 10 100 and l0S
degrees and burned at q emperature OF
between lis and 1Is degrees.
"And tbis,n said Mr.. Craig, "wben
upon every can Of the oil, along with
the brand and the name Of the COM
pany, is the assertion, $50 degrees fire
test.'u
"The expert further stated In bis re-
port that the oils In question would be
fairly safe In cool climate, but were
unsafe In such a warm temperature az
az that Of Selma, or, In fact, almost any
other point 10 San Joaquin valley.
"You must remember" added Man.
ager Craig in explaining the case, "thst
the teinperatare about Selma frequent
Iy ranges from 100 to 1l5 degrees in the
shade during the daytime, and even at
night is often rs high as ITO.
"All the facts In the case,u added
Mr. Craig, "were submitted to the
local representatives Of the Standard
OIL company, together with request
hat the corporation refund to the New
Zealand company the amount OF mon
ey paid out In settlement Of the losses
In question.
"Finally the whole matter was re-.
ferred to the head Office in New York
and then there was another walt. FL
ually, after about four months Of pull.
ing and hauling, the oil company sent
ls their answer"
"And that WAS"
"A refusal TO pay the bill. That set
ties 1t. The negotiations are now drop
ped and we will sue for the money.
We propose, once for all, to settle the
question of whether or not this sort OF
business can be carried on with impun-
ity.
"In nearly every state In the Union
except California" resumed Mr.. Craig,
there 10 law providing for fire test
which all oils must meet before they
can be placed ON the market.
The Paint, Oh and Drug Review
says: Unpopular opinion Ia TO have
any hsnd In the overthrow Of this
monopolistic blight upon general bust.
ness; for it really looks as II there
would have TO be feeling against 1t
created In the public mind to cause any
future legislation which shall limit its
career or put II 10 such q position that
II will be compelled to obey the laws
Of the country IL feeds upon.
The bringing OF these suits In new
feature Of opposition TO Standard meth
DDS, and there needs be many such fea-
lures. II the first suit is won by the
Insurance company, the Standard will
of course appeal, but II the Insurance
men are sustained by the highest tri.
bunal, there will be a precedent estab-
ished which may prove u healthful
,heck upon at least this one method Of
standard deceit, to the advantage OF
hose who daily risk their lives and
properties by the purchase Of Standard
ow test oil sold under q guarantee Of
high test.
There certainly should be strenuous
'fiorts made to acquaint all consumers
II the unreliability Of standard brands
" Illuminating oil. Courts are slow In
'oming to decisions, and while they
ire considering the matter and permit
Ing delays and distractions Of stand.
'rd attorneys the octopus keeps right
N It's usual way, aud other lives and
properties suffer. While the courts are
leciding, the independent refiners, and
heir friends among the newspapers,
must do their best to educate the public
O the truth