The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-19
OIL INQUIRY 70 BE THOROUGH
G4RFIELD UlI CONDJCT KANSAS
INVESTIGATION N PEHSON.
The Ttfiy Agents VINO Got Heef Trust
whence Turned Loose on the stand
Hrd-Consrcss to Provide funds
--RnIlroads involved In the Charges

whence Turned Loose on the Slanu'
rrd- Congress to Provide Funds
Railroads Involved In the Charges
WAsHINdroN. Feb 49,. The Standard
Oh inqu ~ to he conducted In Kansas, IN
accordance with the resolution passed
by the House carly this week, was the sub
ject Of an extended conference to-day at
the Department OF Commerce and Labor
TIE matter wGs canyassed IN all its phases
by Commissioner Of Corpe rations Garfield
and Representative Campbell Of Kansas,
the authcr Of the House resolution.
MIR Campbell submitted 10 Mr. Garfield
the complaints Of the persons interes ted
ardalso a statement Cut.in ms IN detail the
alleged abuses Of Standa Oh in Kansas.
Announcement was uladc thls afternoon
that Commissioner Garfield would prob
ably 60 to Kansas and con duct the inquiry
there in person.
The President has directed him 10 act
with the greatest possible despatch and
to see to il that the work II carefully done.
For this reason he will in all probability
look over the field and direct the operations
of his special agents.
REPRESENTATIVE Compbell's statement
pointing out alleged evils in the oil trade
IN Kansas is elaborate He begins by
inserting that -thc Standard Oil Company
is the only purchaser q crude oil in Kansas.
He charges that the company has cooperated
with the railroads TO drive out of business
independent refneres, and IL almost as
severe in his criticism of the carriers as he
is VI the oil company itself,
According to Mr.. Campbell an oil refinery
WIS established in Humboldt, Kan. 1t
was hampered by the Standard OIL Com
pany to such an extent, says Mr.. Campbell,
ithat 1t has not had an opportunity to do
a great amount Of good for Itself or the
people Tho Humboldt refinery had a
good market for fuel oil until last fall, when
the rate on this commodity was Increased
by the railroads from 10 cents per 100 pounds
from Humboldt to ku sas City TO II cents.
This increase in the rate put the refinery
out Of the business, ard tho supposlti7n is
that the rate was raised on account OF
pressure brought 10 bear by the Standard
Oil Company.
Representative Campbell then describes
conditions IN the Kansas oil fields, contend
Ing that al those interested in the industry
are at the mercy Of the Standard. for tho
reasons that IL owns the only pipe line
that IL IL the only purchaser and that 1t
controls the railroads.
Commissioner g. rneld has already
ST. rted the wheels in motion for the In
veetisation u the Standard Oil. Practi-
cally all the special agents, about fifty in
number who were engaged in the beef
inquiry up 10 few weeks ago will be sent
to Kansas, But If Commissioner Garfield
acts as deliberately IA he did in the case OF
the beef trust. Congress will probably
have TO wait a long time before 1t gets the
report on Standard Oh.
If money Vii hep to accomplish the end
the inquiry will be one Of the most thorough
ever conducted by the Government. Chair
man Hemenway OF the House Committee
on Appropriations to-day assured Repre-
sentative Campbell that Secretary Metcah
OF the Department of Commerce and Labor
sh ould have as much money as he thought
he would need.
Mr. Campbell inquired about the matter
because he had read about the request
Of Secretary Metcalf for d reappropriation
OF the uneXpended balance allowed in the
current Legislative. executive and judicial
appropriation bin He wanted TO make
sure that the request would be compiled
with. The assurance given by Chairman
Hcmenway satisfied Mr.. Campbell that
there Will be no trouble so far as Congress
Is concerned.
TOPEKA, Feb. lS.--The Smith bill, making
oil pipe lines common carriers. fixing trans
portation rates and placing pipe lines un
der control Of the Board Of Railway Com
missioners. passed the House this afternoon
by vote Of i07 too.
This makes three bills affecting the Stand
ard Oil Company TO pass both houses
the State refinery bill, the max imum freight
rate and the common carrier bill, The
fourth bill. preventing discrimination in
the price Of products, IL still hung up in the