The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-12
MEET TO PROBE
TRANSPORTATION
OF OIL
Investigation Begun in Mis-.
souri, Today Of Far Reach
sing Significance.

Associated Press to The Evening Times.
Kansas. City, Mo-, March l2-The
investigation begun here today by the
Interstate Commerce commission into
the combinations and understandings
between railroads and coal and oil
companies is regarded as the most
far-reaching undertaking of its kind
ever attempted. The present investi-
cation has to do with the rates and
practices of the railroad carriers en-
gagged in transporting oil from Kansas
and Indian Territory to interstate des-
tinations. The investigation is based
upon a petition of the Kansas Oil
Producers association. This petition
charges:
That the rates on petroleum and it's
products from producing section in
Kansas and Indian Territory to Mis-
souri,, Iowa and other interstate des-
tinations are unjust and prejudicial.
That producers and shippers other
than the Standard Oil and it's affiliat-
ed comps nies are practically confined
in the marketing of such traffic to the
state Of Kansas.
That the state established in 1905
a schedule of rates for the transporta-
ton of crude oil and the products
thereof, which has operated TO create
markets for the sale of such traffic
within its state, and that such rates
are far below the grossly excessive
rates charged by the railroads to
points in other states, near the bound
ary between them and Kansas.
That the rates upon petroleum ship
ped as interstate traffic from points
in Kansas and the Indian Territory
operate to restrict and prevent traffic
between numerous points, and show
that the railroads, as the result Of.
some understanding between them
and the Standard Oil company, or com
panies allied with it, have been foster
ing monopoly ia the control of the
oil traffic to the wrongful prejudice
to the complainants and other com
petitors of the Standard.
That the railroads also discriminate
against the compartments and in favor
of the Standard Oil and its allied COM
panies in the provision of tank cars
and in storage facilities at various
points of destination, and in the re-
turn Of tank cars and empty barrels
to points Of production. II s..5 i3.. Il
The following named carriers have
been summoned to appear for inves-
tigation: Atchison, Topeka and Santa
sFe Railway company; Missouri Pacific
Railway company; Missouri, Kansas
& Texas, Railway company; St Louis
= & San Francisco Railroad company,
Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific Rail-
way company; Kansas City Southern
Railway company, Union Pacific Rail-;
road company, st. Louis Southwestern
1 Railway company. IL 13
Frank 8. Monet, former attorney
general Of Ohio, conducts the investi-
tion as the representativ OF the inde-
pendent oil producers of Kansas and
Indian Territory. who are the COM
plainants In the case. During his term
of service as attorney general of the
Buckeye State Mr.. Monet acquired q
national reputation as ali expert In
discovering questionable business and
\ political situations. si3 81 n
"A. L. Robertson Of Channte, Kansas.
was the first witness examined. MI.
Robertson, who formerly was q news
paper correspondent. ID now u member
nf the Kansas OIL Producers' associa-.
( ton st,l who makes charges Of discrim-
inAtion. sls;