The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-01
STANDARD lSHURT
Asks State to Open War on a
Competitor.
Claim National Is Not Obeying
Discrimination Law.
ALWAYS OBEYS LAW.
What Mr.. Evans Says OF the
Standard.
Price Charged at Penitentiary
ALWAYS OBEYS LAW.
Price Charged at Penitentiary
Basis of the Complaint.

The Standard OIL company. De-
fender of the Faith, champion of the
cause of the people. and executor of
the anti-discrimination bill.
This is the new role which has been
assumed by the Standard Oil company
in Kansas. Earl Evans. attorney for
| the Standard. is in Topeka today, and
| this morning held a long conference
with Attorney General Coleman and
Governor z. W. Hoch for the purpose
of getting the state to take legal action
against the National Oil company the
chief competitor of the Standard, on
the ground that the Naional Oil com
pany is violating the anti-discrimina-
ton law passed at the last session or
the legislature.
1t is contended by the Standard Oil
company attorneys. of whom Mr..
Evans, of the firm of Stanley, Vermil-
lion & Evans, Wichita, is one, that
the National Oil company offered to
sell, and is selling, oil to the Kansas
state penitentiary at the rate of 4
cents per gallon, while its rate to
other patrons in the state Is materially
higher. This the Standard claims, is
in violation of the anti-discrimination
law, which says;
ANY person. firm. or corporation,
foreign or domestic, doing business in
the state of Kansas. and engaged in
the production, manufacture or distri-
button of any commodity in general
use, that shall Intentionally for the
purpose Of destroying competition, dis
/ criminate between different sections,
communities or cities of this state by
selling such commodity at lower
rate in one section community or city
or any portion thereof than is charged
for such commodity in another sec
tion, community, or city, after equaliz-
ing the distance from the point of
production, manufacture or distribu-
ton and freight rates therefrom, shall
be deemed guilty of unfair discrimina-
ton"
STANDARD Obeys the Laws"
Attorney General Coleman today de-
c1ined to express any opinion on the
case He said:
sMr. Evans was here. claiming that
, the National Oil company had violated
the nti-discrimination law. He seem
ed to think that the law should be en-
forced
Mr.. Evans himself said:
THE attorney general Of the state
knows that the Standard Oil company
always obeys the laws of the state. It
is scrupulOus in its obedience to law.
, We are more particular about obeying
this anti-discrimination law than is the
state itself, for the state is willing to
sell binding twine, manufactured at
the penitentiary, at a certain price but
o II l44G RCESOn VINO DuNS IS wiling to
. take a large quantity. the price is re-
duced. We want to see all laws en-
: forced"
Warden Haskell, Of the state penf-
> tentiary at Lansing. was called up by
long distance telephone and said:
The contract for supplying the
: penitentiary with oil was let at a meet
, ing of the prison board on February g.
me National Oil company got the con
tract for supplying the kerosene
which IS the biggest part of the bust
. ness. Its price was Il cents per gal
l Ion, which is somewhat less than the
price has been in the past. don't re-
member exactly how much of a reduc-
/ ton it is. The contract for the Iubri-
eating oils and oils used in the twine
plant was divided up between the Ma
, uonal and the Standard. The stand
ara got the twine plant oil contract 7
had not heard of any trouble about tn a
= contra ct"
May Gust From the State.
! The penalty for the violation of the
! law Is made very severe. It is made
the duty of the state charter board to
I investigate any complaints which NAV
r be made of discrimination. and If If fs
s round that discrimination exists. the
D BOARD snail forfeit the charter of the
} organization found guilty. If the con-
= Germ attempts to do business without
! a charter, it is made the DUTY Of fhe
a attorney general to bring suit to oust
the company from the state. This
uIthef penalty is provided:
. ANY person. firm or corporation I4o-
! latlng the provisions of this act EDon
conviction thereof, shall forfeit t. the
state of Kansas the sum of not aess than
sl,OOO for each and every violation of
: this act; said sum to be recovered nv a
. suit in the name of the state of Kan
= sas IN any court of competent iurisdfr-
tion, by the attorney general All SIMS
! collected under this act shall be. credited
10 the permanent school fund cf the
state of Kansas"
Is There = Hidden Meaning?
It is likely to strike one as a pecu-
liar coincident that the attempt Of the
7 Standard Oil company to test in the
courts the validity OF the anti -Iiscri1ni-
nation law by means of an attack upon
; its rival should come at just She ssime
time that the railroads are planning to
: attack the maximum freight rate law in
! the courts.
Is it possible that this is part OF the
i, plan which has been evolved for he
purpose of Tidding the statute hooks Of
: both of these laws passed for the 39ur-
pose of securing a square deaP' for tho
independent oil refners of the state?
The National Oil company is suppos-
ed to be the chief competition which the
Standard Oil company has. By making
V this attack on the National in the name
? discrimination law, the Standard Oil at
r tcrneys could force the National to fight
e back. and in the scramble, the validity
of the antf-discrimination law would be
attacked.
!. largest on Record.
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