The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-25
'TIIlNDARD OIL OCTOPUS.
|, I. B,,u Fastening lis Ientacles on
CorsicaBa Fields.
!, ,,TI.IRUSl LAW MAY BE INVOKED
LAS Are Ample to Protect In
rt Rei;ners--Imp De-
f, Afecting school Lands.

Mi designed to bring about needea
IN the levying and collection OF
~ most vehement protest against
,,ssge OF said bill came from corsi-.
was proposed therein among
,s,Dgs to levy tax on the output. of
h reaneries in an attempt to equi-
M.,ribute the weight of the imports
,.,,l to the administration of the
IA the maintenance Of the state
,mont hence the excitement whicD
I'M the Corsicana people. An ex-
"a states senator was sent to Austin
I'll big speech in opposition to the
IN 4 delegation of prominent Navarro
n citizens came down to convince the
ss,ors that the producer would have
.v tbe tax ii the refiners were made
Sn,riDute something towards paying
a.t Of running the State, as they
"A eel even by bearing the price %
n nstroleum. In the course OF events
ysslature dispersed without passing
~ Bin and the Corsicana oil well
{-sr. smiled with satisfaction. But they
All smile long. Pretty soon the price
MA petroleum began 10 tumble with
snprent reason and the decline con-
IA until now the raw product COM
IN, 10 cents less per barrel than was
f,Irable therefor early in the year, and
1. ii spite of the sidetrackiDg of the
|, bll. As the price of oil has gone
4, The people controlling the Corsicana
1, lines and refinery (who are but COM
C,,ts OF the Standard oil crowd) have
Iaually become owners of oil well prop
N Under the influence of declining
ks,s oil wells are falling In value and
Aarsyer the refinery people can obtain
III their price they take 1t in, and they
IA pursued this policy until they now
4, about one-half the wells in the Cor
R,as territory, Eventually they will
n them all unless something is done
! ueyent the contamination of their
R.ne to monopolize both the producing
Z refining field. AS matters stand now
N have 1t in their power to make their
Zasnds swell up at will, as reductions
! As price paid for crude petroleum are
y allowed by corresponding reductions
kAs selling price of refined oil.
|E1ar;ing under the lash OF the refining
sxtpoly certain Corsicana men of means
u Il is understood, figuring on estab-
5sig an independent refinery. The field
: here for them to prosper In and Sec
~ and of the anti-trus act affords
% all the protection they need. Said
kibas read as follows:
|a,ion g. II any person. persons. com
Ey, partnership, association or corpora
b, s.gaged in the manufacture of any
tsas Of commerce or consumption from
4 raw material produced or mined in
y State, shall, with the intent or pur-
H Of driving out competition, or for the
frsa OF financially injuring competi-
p sell at less than the cost of manu-
fnis or give away their manufactured
faucts for the purpose of driving out
FsNition or financially injuring COM
Es'tr engaged in the. manufacture and
ENG OF raw material in this State,
4 person, persons, company, partner
association or corporation resorting
ns method of securing monopoly
'as manufacture. refining and sale of
n ashed product produced or miiied In
II safe, shall be deemed guilty of
kapracy to form or secure a trust or
F1poy IN restraint of trade, and on
|auiuon shall he subject to the penalties
fAls act.
|M'Dn 4. II any person, persons. com
II Partnership, association. corporation
4 'ssnt engaged in the manufacture or
n u any article Of commerce or con-
Isg,on produced, manufactured or
Esa IN this State or elsewhere. shall.
N NE intent or purpose of driving out
E,ls,l,ion, or for the purpose of fnan-
Ia' lnluring competitors. sell within this
~ a. less than cost of manufacture
loqueuon. or sell In such a way or
L."aiNay within this State, their products
4 w PURPOSE OF driving out competition
.,alciaily injuring competitors en-
M 10 similar business. said person,
ls, company. partnership. assocla-
n .olporatlon or agent resorting to
I, rs'aon OF securing monopoly within
4 sa'e In such business. shall be
I,.'a guilty of conspiracy to form or
n. rust Or monopoly in restraint ~
ns,. aau on conviction thereof shall
r'sS' 70 the penalties Of this act.
q 'eeard to the tax bill II transpires
Cvery candidate for legislative hon
,lo makes an issue thereof in the
s,s go being held from week to week
sasut the State wins out. In sew
II r''ences candidates who ATTEMPTED
\ sn IN their records in opposition to
M we're showed under and RELOCATED
M, tear by emphatic majorities.
ksrml sure indication of a settled
sh',;.a on the part of the people
kas An .ax reform and 1t may be ex-
\ nnat the Twenty seventh legisla-
~ Jackie the question IN earnest
Es !, TAX bill that will meet the
s constituents in the premises.
h. 'oHfANT LAND DECISION.
~ spfeme court this morning an
NJ ue certified question from the
NV supreme judicial dlstrlct in
's.or Mccall, from Fisher county,
e:,s y appellant and decided that the
d, purchaser OF school land
eas uuy additional sections without
M sa lion the parent section.
h of eion u the case turns upon the
|kAool Ippeilee TO purchase a section
AZ isnd in Fisher county without
Esa N actual settler upon II or any
|stIos sehool land and involves a con-
|'2;a p =, section 8 of the amended act
Ri, nssised Statutes. Art. i2ISf.
haSa ~ ss'iee Gaines disposes of the
prav.s ~ oil article Z OF our constitu-
II So.ues that actual settlers upon
k:reneas to counties shall have a
la right to purchase 100 acres Of
eln upon which they have settled.
's1Ip " article Il prohibits the sale
sssiSy the land office except 10 ac-
sas sons Section 8 of. the last named
p lss Astes to each head of a family
pa ~ home 100 acres of the public
r rno nu TO every single man eighty
\ ~ coalition that they reside
sssIDg y the term Of three years. In
~ VA o' the school lands, the legis-
h.sssn a View doubtless to encourage
I ihs s hnt of the country and to en-
PA fess 10 procure homes. has
ia ns same policy and has. IN to