The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-05

the sale OF dangerous oils and fluids in
the territory.
The oil companies want the inspection
! laws repealed. They have been working
| to weaken the law, or have il repealed,
ever since it was enacted. tn represent
atiyes~ of--one= OF the principal oil COM
panies doing business in the territory
have been in the capital city since the
legislature has been in session. earnest
ly working TO secure a sentiment in
favor of a repeal OF the law.
1T is urged that 10 repeal the law
would open up, the way for competition
and result in the Introduction of better
articles. This is A mistake. Competition
would be just impossible in the alb
senee OF the law as il has been with il
! in force. In at least one city in the ter
ritory. so 1 have been Informed. competi-
! ton in the oil trade was attempted. The
dominant oil company put the price of
oil down 10 eight cents per gallon. The
weaker competitor had TO quit business.
ana on the very next day the price went
up to the old standard
To repeal the present law would not
open the way to competition as is com
/ monty believed. The only way to solve
the problem of competition along all
/ lines of trade in, the territory would be
the enactment and enforcement of a
vigorous antitrust law.
Again another serious objection to
the repeal of the oil inspection law is the
fact that a suit IS now pending in the
courts against one of the oil compa anies
asking damages in the sum ow 5000 for
an alleged violation of the law, TIC re-
peal the law at this time would practi-
cally decide the case against the terri
tory and in favor of the oil company
The attorney for the Waters-Pierce OIL
company is no doubt very much interest
ed in the repeal of the oil inspection Law.
as it would win the case for. his clients
1T is-not presumed that the legislat-
i've assembly of Oklahoma should be
placed in the attitude of winning a suit
for a corporation by repeating the law
under which said suit was commenced.
1t would seem that a strong law repeal
ing the present one would be the best
policy That law should make ample
provision for a better system of inspec-
ton. compel the oil companies. and not
the consumers. to pay in the inspection
fee. fix stated salary for the inspector.
and all fees in excess of expenses should
be turned into the territorial treasury
THE repeal of the present law most
assuredly does not anticipate the enact
ment of another and better one.
Believing that council bill No. ~. if
approved. would work an injury upon the
territory. I have the honor TO return the
same with my disapproval
''one at Guthrie this 3rd day of March,
1858.
Very respectfully submitted.
ct B. FERGUSON, Governor"
The veto message was read in the
council this afternoon. Senator Camp
bell Immediately arose to his feet and
stated that he did not understand why
the bill had been vetoed. as the present
law is a farce and highway robbery. The
Oklahoma county senator moved that
the bill and veto message be referred TO
the committee of the whole for consider
alton and be made a special order OF
business for tomorrow morning at 1876
o'clock. This motion carried.
Senator Campbell was at work this af-
ternoon in an attempt to pass the bill
despite the governors veto Whether
this can be done or not remains TO be
seen.