Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-08-10
AFTER STANDARD
That Great Oil Monopoly's General
Agent Arrested for Not Com
plying with the Law.
B. G. WILSON IN CUSTODY
A Foreign Corporation Defes Law Of New
Mexico and Refuses to Pay License Fee
in Territory Whose People 1t Robs
by high Prices for Oil.

A few days ago The New Mexican
announced that Solicitor General e. l..
Bartlett was preparing to prosecute the
Standard Oil company for it's defiance,
through its subordinate Continental COM
pany, of the law enacted by the last ses-
sion Of the legislature creating a com
merce commission to regulate the sale of
petroleum and its products in this ter
ritory. This law requires retail dealers
to procure a license at a charge of 81
per annum. Wholesalers must also
have a license, the cost of which is $25
per annum, and a foreign corporation
shipping such products into the terri
tory must procure license from the
commerce commission. The cost of
such license Is $500 per annmm, a mere
bagatelle to the Standard Oil company.
Doubtless all the resident dealers in
New Mexico would uncomplainingly pay
the amount necessary for license and
gladly comply with any regulations the
commerce commission might make. But
not so with this monopoly that robs the
people of the territory of hundreds of
thousands of dollars by charging them
higher prices than are asked of Ell Paso
BUYERS and the merchants of western
states.
This company, very 0 after the
| passage of the law, announced through
its agent and attorney in this territory
that it would not pay the license fec MOI
consent to obey the other requirements
of the act. The great monopoly scorns
to recognize the rights of a simple terri
tory, when it is defying some of the
great states. Its managers and theil
attorneys of course sheer at the power
| of New Mexico to enact restraining acts
and at the ability of territorial courts tt
enforce laws against the corporation
But the m commission means
business, Solicitor General Bartlett in.
tends to see that the law is compiled
| with if it be not decided unconstitution
al, and as the territory has a judiciary
that is fearless, the law will be construed
in good faith. If it has any fata
weakness, then a decision will only show
that a stronger law should be enacted.
In pursuance of the determination tt
put the matter to a test an action ha!
been begun by the solicitor general ant
E. w. Dobson, president of the com
merce commission, has sworn to a CON
| plant against b. G. Wilson of Albu
querque, the general agent of thu
Continental Oil company, for doing bust
ness on behalf of the foreign corpora
ton without procuring a license in &C
cordance with the requirements of thu
law.
A. warrant has been issued by Judg,
j. w. Crumpacker of the District our
for Bernali]lo county, and Mr.. Wilson
is under arrest.
In addition to a heavy penalty pro
vidcd for a company that does sucl
business without license, there is also
penalty by fine and Imprisonment foI
any person who shall represent sucl
party violating the law.
1t may be that the matter will not bt
settled finally until it has reached thu
supreme court of the United States, bu'
if the decision shall be against the va
lidity of the law, then it only remain.
for the territory to enact a law that will
stand. That the public will in the enc
be protected efficiently against this pub
lie oppressor, through the government
and courts is certain, for the people art
undoubtedly wronged and robbed. A
government is for the benefit of the PEG
Pile, and courts are for the purpose o
righting wrong, the government mus
finally make laws that are right and thu
courts will apply them where needed.
In the meantime this corporation j!
weaving for itself a crown of thorns ant
when this law or a substitute shall b.
sustained by the courts then the com
pany will find that the public a be al
relentless in enforcing justice as thu
company is in its unwillingness to helt
share to a small extent the expenses O
territorial government where it doe.
business, and as persistent as the mono
poly is in robbery OF the people WHIT
must use the commodity which 1t con
trolls.