Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-10
STANDARD OIL AND INSPECTOR
Former Omcial states His Version
of Some Recent Com
troverstes.

OMAHA, May 9.-To the Editor of The
Bee: 1 see some newspaper discussion as
to what part the Standard Oil company
took in my displacement from the office
OF oil inspector, and in the appointment of
my successor. Perhaps 1t is just as well
to give to the public the facts as 1 have
them.
was anxious during the Legislative SEES
sion to secure the passage of a new law
raising the standard of oils in this state.
The governor professed to be equally anx-
ious for the passage of the bill. After we
had got the bill through one house, 1
learned that Ed Church, one of my depu-
ties, was working against the bill, and that
he was often in conference with the oil
agents on the matter. Acting on this In
formation 1 addressed the following ofi-
cial letter to the governors:
II wish to inform you that Deputy Oil
Inspector Ed. Church has been working
and talking against the bill framed by this
department calling for a better grade of
oils for our state. 1t is apparent that he
is conspiring with the representatives of
the oil companies to defeat this measure,
and is using arguments prepared by them.
1t seems to me that in this he Is showing
disloyalty to this department and to the
best interests of the state and that 1t would
be for the good of the service to call for
his resignation. 1 await your pleasure In
| the consideration OF this matter. Respect
fully yours, JAMES E. HAYS"
For several days 1 waited the pleasure of
the governor In this matter. In the mean
time, by hard work we succeeded in get
ting the new law through the legislature,
and 1t received the executive signature on
the 10th day of April. Deputy Church re-
manned In office, however.
After the bill had been signed I notified
the oil agents of the fact, and of the new
test required. They answere my letter
and gave me a list of all cars in transit
before the passage of the law. My letter
to them was dated April 14th. and the reply
of John B. Ruth, manager, which 1 have ir
! my possession, is dated April 16. He &C
, knowledged that thereafter all oil shipped
to this state should show the liz test under
the new law.
About the 18th of the same month tht
controversy arose as to the receipt of cars
of oil at Blue Hill and other points. Thii
oil did not come up to the test as required
under the new law, and 1 promptly ordered
that II be condemned. This brought abou
a hasty visit from the Omaha manager o
the oil company to the governor, on tn,
18th. and l was sent for to come to tn,
governors office.
At this conference the governor, in tn.
presence of Manager Ruth. requested m
to accept the condemned oil. Ruth had ex
planned thai 1t had been shipped before tn
passage of the bill. l told them that thi
was not correct, that the oil was shippe,
over a week after the passage of the bill
that II was illegal in test, and that I coul
not accept II. / then went away, leavin
the governor and Manager Ruth together
In less than an hour I received informatio
hat Ed. Church had been selected to sue
coed me as chief oil inspector.
- Under the supervision of the new chic
, deputy the condemned oil was promptly az
cepted, under the fiction that 1t had bee
shipped before the passage OF the new Law
. However. I nave before me a copy OF III
! notice OF shipment OF the Blue Hill OF
which shows for itself. It reads as follow,
Omaha, April %, 1903. Agent Star
dard Oil company. Blue Hin.-Dear ST
( Enclosed find bill of lading U. T. L. ca
No. 1904. containing 1854 gallons perfectio
oil. shipped from Whiting. Ind. to you
. station order date April 2l. Please ma,
railroad agent date and sign one copy
: this bill, etc. Yours truly,
5 JOHN B. RUTH, Manager"
h These letters speak for themselves, ar
are proof positive that my contention W,
right in trying TO protect the state in Il
rejection OF the illegal oil. They also pro-
i that when a chief deputy has been a
pointed to o. X. the oil brought. into IN
q state. the managers OF the Standard c
10 company are pretty securely I'm the sa
die, and there is little to expect from tn
direction in the enforcement OF the ne
law. J. E. HAYS.