The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-21
For a Period of Six Years for
Refinery Project.
CALLS FOR COMMITTEE.
To Confer With Our Legislature
on Subject.
Expresses Accord With Effort
for Commercial Freedom.

Springfield, Ill, Feb. 21.-The house
today adopted two resolutions affect
ing the Standard Oil company. One
offered by Representative Allen offers
to loan the state of Kansas the sum
of 100000 without interest for a
period of six years to aid in establish
ing a state oil refinery and refers to
the Standard Oil company as that
''merciless octopus, whose tentacIes
now encircle every state in the union
The resolution was adopted by a close
viva voce vote amid considerable con-
fusion and laughter.
A resolution by Representative Nc
Goorty of Chicago asks for an investi-
cation of the laying of pipe lines
through Illinois by the Standard Oil
company and provides for the appoint
ment of a joint committee to confer
with the state officers of Kansas to
agree on steps to be taken toward de-
claring such pipe lines common car
rlers. This resolution was adopted
without dissenting vote. Mr.. Allen
is a Republican and Mr.. McGoorty a
Democrat.
present house to be in hearty accord
with the fight of the Kansas legislature
for commercial freedom.
Representative McGoorty explained
that it was not intended to make any
investigation of the Standard Oil COM
pany-
I merely want an investigation of
the pipe line which now extends to
Galesburg and Monmouth" he said.
This pipe line later extended to In
diana. If necessary the report of the
committee appointed may be followed
by a bill to make the company a COM
mon carrier and subject to the same
regulations and penalties
The text of the resolution is as fol-
lows:
through its legislature and chief execu-
tive has taken steps and adopted meas
ures to provide against the aggression
of the Standard Oil company.
Whereas, Kansas has become a great
oil producing state and under proper
enabling legislation purposes to supply
to the consumer oil and its bi-products
in defiance of threats of determination
and ruin, reported to have been made
against said state by Standard Oil com
pany. and
whereas, In this regard the assertion
by Kansas of her rights and powers as
awakened the hope that this most me
nacing of all combinations is amenable
to the law of the land, and
whereas, 1t is reported that pipe lines
and conduits controlled by the Standard
Oil company, extending from the oil fields
of Kansas to certain cities of the state of
are rapidly approaching completion and
that such pipe lines are proposed to ex-
tend across the state to its eastern boun-
dairy. and,
whereas. The people of this state have
the right to know and be fully advised as
to the purpose of the Standard Oil COM
pany in this regard and under what rights
and terms it may claim as common car
rier or in any other capacity; now, there
fore, be it
"Resolved. By the house of representa-
tives of the general assembly of Illinois,
the senate concurring therein, that a joint
committee of this joint assembly consist
ing of five members, be appointed forth
with three of which shall be appointed by
this house and two of which members
shall be appointed by the senate, for the
purpose of conferring and communicating
with the Kansas legislature and its state
officers and determining and representing
to this general assembly and to both
branches thereof, the scope and extent of
said pipe lines and such other information
necessary to enable this general assem-
bly, to safeguard and protect the people of
this state and its commercial interests. Be
it further
Resolved, That the members of this
general assembly are in hearty accord
with the efforts of the Kansas legislature
and it's chief executive in the great fight
for commercial freedom