The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-17
HOCH SIGNS IT.
Governor Approves the Oil Re
finery Bill Today.
Gives His Reasons in a Lengthy
Communication.
1T ISN'T SOCIALISM.
Says Soul of the Measure Is
Competition.
Attempt to Compel a Monopoly
to Be Decent.
HITS STANDARD OIL.
Southern Kansas Order Shows
Power of Trust.
HITS STANDARD OIL.
Southern Kansas Order Shows
Power of Trust.
Calls Attention to Need Of Ade-
quate Railroad Legislation.

Governor E. w. Hoch today signed
the state oil refinery bill, and sent Il
message of five typewriter pages to
both branches of the legislature ex-
planning his action.
To a reporter for the State Journal
Governor Hoch said:
"I had made up my mind. even be-
fore this oil refinery bill was passed,
that if it came up to me, would be
ready to sign it within 10 minutes.
When the bill came to me in en-
crossed form today, took time to go
over it carefully. and to formulate my
reasons for signing it. Then I sent
my message to the house"
AS soon as the bill is published in
the official state paper, it will become
a law.
1t will then be up to the state
auditor to issue the bonds which the
bill authorizes. 1t is likely that
friendly suit will be arranged to test
the constitutionality of the law in the
supreme court. If the supreme court
sustains the law, the state can go
ahead with the work of building the
state oil refinery.
The governors message follows:
'State of Kansas, Executive De-
partment; Topeka. February IT, 1905.
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
THE enactment of SO important a
piece of legislation as the bill provid-
ing for the esta blishment of an oil re-
hnery in this state is such a radical
departure from governmental preced-
ent that 1t seems wise to put upon the
records a. clear statement OF the
provocation and purpose Of this un-
dertaking-
1T is due to the legislative as well
as the executive department of state
that this be done, that our action be
clearly defined and thoroughly under
stood at home and abroad.
THE causes leading up to this leg
islation are well known. About
twelve years ago oil in vast reservoirs
was discovered beneath the soil in
south eastern Kansas Private capital
widening fields of subterranean
wealth. Thousands of our people and
many citizens from other states in
vested their hard earnings in these
fields. The Standard Oil company, en-
couraged these industries by Offering
remunerative prices for the crude
product. Thus encouraged thousands
of cur people invested their all in oil
covered by the discovery there was
for a few years a wonderful impetus
to material development. Towns
sprang up like magic, and villages
grew into cities.
cat the high tide of this prosperity,
encouraged and stimulated by the
Standard Oil company, this great cor
poration, in harmony with its tactics
elsewhere commenced a systematic
absorption of this vast wealth which
threatens to bankrupt these countless
private investors, and to depreciate
and destroy the honest efforts of all
the people of the upbuilding of that
part of the state. Under one pretense
and another crude oil has deprecated
more than one-half in price, while the
final product, kerosene, has been in
CnSf customer
This has been the history of this
powerful and rapaciOus corporation,
in all of its fields of operation. I'm
a bic to cope Sfngly and individually
batant people Immediately affected
came to the legislature asking relief
at its hands, and their request has been
seconded with wonderful unanimity by
sympathetic people all over the state |
This law is the result. Scarcely a man
can be found in whose bosom throbs |
the desire for fair play who does not
sympathize with the spirit and senti- !
ment which inspired this movement. |
There has been and is, however, |
widely divergent views as to the wis |
dom of this and other remedies pro-
posed to right these recognized wrongs |
These divergent views have been hon |
estly and conscientiously entertained. |
Many have doubted the wisdom and |
possible effectiveness of this particular |
measure I myself have believed that |
this appropriation could be accomplish |
by an appropriation of $50, 900. believe |
the expenditure of that sum for the es-
tablishment of an experimental refine |
~ at Lansing would have eliminated
the constitutional question and sub |
served all the possible purposes to be |
subserved by the larger appropriations |
BY experiment do not mean, as some |
seem to suppose, an experiment along |
mechanical lines, for no experiment is !
needed of this kind; but / mean an ex-
pertinent first. which shall definitely
and authoritatively settle the question
as to the possibilities and profits of the |
refinery business. These matters are in |
endless dispute No one knows about
them except experts and they won't tell. |
Secondly, as to the legality of any un- |
dertaking of this kind; and thirdly, an |
experiment in a small commercial way /
on a competitive market The difference
between my plan and the one adopted |
is one of degree and relative expense
and I still think the chances of success
would have been greater and the posSi-
bilities of failure less.
I think Kansas could we'll afford to |
make such an official contribution to /
the great discussion going on in this
country on this subject, and help ma
terially in this way to a wise final So
luton of the problem. am aware of /
the transportation and other difficulties /
Involved in this prODOSition but I he