The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-23
ONE MORE STEP
Congressman Scott of Kansas
Introduces a Bill
Declaring Pipe Lines to BE
Common Carriers.
AIM OF THE MEASURE.
Is to Place Them Under Control
of Interstate Commission.
Secretary Hitchcock Defends
His Course In Territory.
AIM OF THE MEASURE.

Washington. Feb. 23.-Another step
in the direction of federal control of
the Standard Oil company was taken
by the introduction of a bill declaring
pipe lines common carriers and extend
ing to them as such all of the provts-
ions of the various interstate commerce
laws. This bill was introduced by Rep
resentative Scott Of Kansas, who be-
lieves that the fight of the Kansas legis-
Iature should be taken up by congress
and pressed until the oil trust is com
pletely under the supervision of the
government
If the bill becomes a law, pipe lines
will be as completely under the regula-
tons of the interstate commerce COM
mission as railroads Not only could
the government compel the Standard to
transport without discrimination through
Its lines the oil of Independent pro-
ducers, but it could fix the rates to be
charged for such transportation in the
event the rate bill now pending in the
senate is passed. The Scott bill is en-
titled "A bill to regulate common car
riers engaged in the transportation of
oil and gas" It is as follows;
BE it enacted that all the provisions,
30 far as they are applicable, of the act
TO regulate interstate commerce, ap-
proved March 4. 1887. and all the acts
and amendatOry thereto and supple
mental thereto, shall apply to all per
sons, partnerships, joint stock COM
panies and corporations operating lines
of pipe from any state or territory of
the United States. to any state or terri
tory for the conveyance and transPorta-
ton Of crude or refined oil and natural
gas; such persons, joint stock COM
panies and corporations shall be deem
ed to be common carriers within the
meaning of such acts.
Section 2. Within sixty days from
persons. coparrnersh5ps. joint stock
companies or corporations shall nle with
she interstate commerce commission
statement setting forth the firm name
or style under which the business is
conducted and the location of its prin-
etpal office"
Mr.. Scott introduced this measure at
ter consulting members of the Penn
sylvania and New York delegations in
Segard TO the laws of those states reg
ulating the transportation of oil through
pipe lines. He learned that the legisla-
lures have passed bills requiring all
pipelines to be incorporated as common
carriers before they can obtain the
right of eminent domain.
Mr.. Scott said that he was under the
impression pipelines OF the Standard in
Kansas were through territory which
that company had purchased outright
and that owing to the fact that it had
not obtained the right of eminent co
main some complications might result in
action by congress declaring those lines
common carriers He viii investigate
this phase OF the matter later. The
Kansas representative said he did not
expect to get his bill before this con-
gress as it will come to an end in about
ten days, but that he believed a similar
measure would be enacted in the next
congress. He added that notice should
be served at this time that legislation
of such character would be demanded
1.-The Kansas legislature has passed a
bill declaring all pipelines in that state
70 be common carriers, said Mr. Scott,
but it is clear that the only effective
way of regulating the transportation of
oil is to extend to the pipelines the reg
ulatfons of the interstate commerce
laws in order that the transportation
Of oil from one state to another can be
placed under the supervision of the
federal government.
IF my bill is passed every provision
of the interstate commerce laws ap-
piled in the case of a railroad will be
equally effective in the case of a pipe
line. Included in this legislation is
the Elkins anti-rebate law under
which the Standard would be prevent
ed from giving rebates to companies
in which it held an interest The
Kansas legislature last week adopted
resolution urging the Kansas senators
and representatives to support lesisla-
zion that would place the Standard I'M
der the supervision of the federal gov
eminent and it was in compliance with
this resolution that I introduced my
Dill L KNOW u no way ny WHICH Anc
government can bring the oil mo-
nopoly under its control more effec-
lively than by regulating the transpor-
tation of OIL
The Scott bill was referred to the
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce. It is understood that no
effort viii be made to get that COM
Hnittee to take action on it at this ses-
sion and that it VIII not be pressed
until the report of the secretary of
commerce and labor on the investiga-
ton of the conditions in the Kansas
oil fields. as directed by the resolution
offered by Representative Campbell, is
submitted to congress.
DEFENDS HIS ACTION.