The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-19
ASKS QUESTIONS.
Commissioner Garfield Has
Standard on the Rack.
Puts Pertinent Inquiries Which
Oil Company DOdges.
SHOCKS INVESTIGATOR
Reduction in the Price of Oil
SHOCKS INVESTIGATOR
Reduction in the Price of Oil
Comes as a Surprise.
Many Empty Tank Cars But
None for Local Producers.

Chanute. Kan, April 19-Commis-
sioner Garfield will finish his work in
this oil field this afternoon and go to
Kansas City tonight. This does not
mean that the probing of the oil stu
alton in Kansas is to stop for the day.
for there viii be twelve agencies of
the bureau of corporations left in the
deld to carry on the work which may
last several weeks.
The main object of Mr.. Garfeld's
visit was to get personal view of the
situation in general way and this
accomplished, he is now ready for
other fields From Kansas City Mr..
GARFIELD viii go to California. He is
not going to Indian Territory.
afr. Garfield Puzzled
Commissioner Garfield got two
shocks late yesterday. One OF them
was the reduction of five cents a bar
rel in the price of oil. The other was
when he counted two hundred and
nineteen tank cars standing on the
side tracks of the Standard here when
the independent producers all over the
field have been trying to get tank
cars for weeks and the railroads have
said they could not supply the cars.
The thing which puzzled Mr.. Garfield
IS now the Standard can get more cars
than 1t needs, While producers cannot
get a car when the car is necessary
Mr.. Garfield went over the books of
the Standard. All the officials of the
Standard We're there. Mr.. Young
Mr.. Evans, the manager for the
Standard in Kansas, Mr.. Cummins
general attorney for the Prairie, Mr.
patterson, the cashier of the Prairie,
and others We're on hand, not only
ready and willing, but anxious to give
Information to the commissioner. Mr.
Garfield is now in possession of the
whole case for the Standard
Breaks Its Promises.
1ses 1t never fulfilled, but justides its
action on the ground that it never ex-
pected to see such an oil field as has
Deen developed in Kansas and the ter
Tl0orles- The admission is made that
the STANDARD encouraged the develop
ment of the field, but the plea follows
that the development got beyond the
capacity of the Standard to take care
Of 1t is admitted that all grades of
Kansas oil possess value, but in order
70 get the best it was necessary for
the Standard to restrict its purchases
TO oil above the gravity of 80 degrees.
Asked about the purchase of more
than z million barrels of cheap Texas
oil last year and its shipment to
BayOnne for refining purposes the Of
heials OF the Standard pleaded igno-
rance Asked as to why the tank cars
are standing idle on the tracks here
While the requests Of producers are
ignored, the officials of the Standard
say that it is up to the railroads. Asked
line, the officials Of the Standard saw
they do not know. Asked if the
Standard has Disseminated against
Kansas oil and paid less than the oil
was worth the officials say that is a
matter regulated by the pl1rcha SIM
agency at Oil City.
Books Show Nothing.
Mr.. Garfield lad learned several
things during the PAST two days exper-
ience with the Standard people All
they know is in the books and the books
90 not Show anything. The books DO
not show why the shipments of refined
oil from NeOdesha over the Missouri
Pacific were doubled within 80 DAYS ar
ter the STANDARD elected three directors
o. the ROAD. The books only show the
1snes ana they show only the figures
the Standard wants them 10 show
When Mr. Garfield saw the notices of
the reduction III price he was curious
but the officials said it was another case
Of over production and let it 20 at that
MI Earl Who is conducting the in
Yestigatlon into the oil business for the
government, has been getting a great
deal Of testimony during the past two
days J. H Crawford. member Of the
advisory board Of the Kansas Oil Pro
ducers' associationi c. D Martin. c. p
Wilder and others have testified M
Earl has many dispositions and is eroins .
in Independence today to give the Off
Gals of the Standard a chance to tes-
tify.
The evidence taken here covers :,
wide range Letters have been produc-
ed showing the promises of the Stand
ard when the development of the FIELD
began. Letters have also been prOdIlc-
ed from the Standard showing that
Kansas oil refnes better than North
Lima. The last letter is from the gen
eral sales agent of the Standard at
Kansas City.