Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-05-08

petition.
THE Standard claims that the To-
cation of its refineries and the use
of pipe lines are natural advantages
to which it is Justly entitled by reason
of the energy and foresight OF its man
ayers. While in a measure that is
true, it may not be forgotten that
these advantages were in part obtained
by means of unfair competitive meth
DDS after years of industrial strife.
1.-The development of the pipe line
system by the Standard Oil company
was the result of special agreements
with railroad companies. Further
more, those so-called natural advan-
tages have been and are being greatly
increased by determinations in freight
rates. both published and secret. inter-
state and state, which give the Stand
ard monopolistic control in the great
er portion Of the country, and which
so limit competition as to practically
prevent the extension Of the business
of any Independent to point which
even remotely endangers the supre-
macy OF the Standard.
Trust Control Complete.
IAN Immediate result of this delim-
itation Of the competitive area is
shown by the prices of ordinary H.
Illuminating Oil throughout the coun-
try. After deducting the freight rate
the price of such oil is usually from
two cents to five cents gallon high
er in the non-competitive than in the
competitive fields. A reasonable profit
upon refined oil is about one-half a
cent per gallon. 1t is clear that ex-
orbitant profits are obtained IN the
fields. This nonopo-
listic control extends from the we'll of
the producer to the doorstep OF the
consumer"
Mr.. Garfield cites the fact that the
New York Central Railroad company
was the only one which refused for
itself and afiliated lines to give ac-
cess to records OF state rates.
At the beginning of the investiga-
ton. he says, the Standard OIL COM
pany denied that it has obtained in
recent years or was now obtaining
any rebate or other transportation dis
elimination against its competitors,
and yet he says that most careful re-
view Of the facts and the explanations
leads to the conclusion that the Stand
ard OIL company has habitua,ly re-
ceived from the railroads, and is now
receiving, secret rates and other I'M
just and Illegal determinations.
Sum Saved by Secret Rates.
In 1904 these secret rates saved the
Standard Oil company three-quarters
of a million dollars, representing the
difference between the open rates and
the rates actually paid. These dis
ordinations" he says, have been SC
long continued, and SO secret, SO in
geniously applied to new conditions
of trade, and SO large in amount as to
make 1t certain that they were due to
concerted action by the Standard and
the railroads" He says further that
the Standard Oil company is receiving
unjust determinations in the matter
of open rates, the published rates from
the leading Standard shipping points
being relatively much lower than rates
from the shipping points Of its COM
petitors.
Mr.. Garfield then refers to seven
instances of important determinations
in favor of the Standard Oil COM
pany in various parts of the country,
and says that most of the secret rates
and some of the open determinations
discovered by the bureau were abol-
ished by the railroads shortly after
such discovery. After calling attsH-
ton to the good which already has re-
suited from the investigation, Mr.. Gar
field says that the changes effected
have put ths independents upon fair
er footing and make competition pos
sible In territories heretofore inaecss-
sible. The report concludes as fol-
lows:
Independents at Disadvantage.
Nevertheless, the widespread dis
ordinations in open rates still in
force leave the independents at Sc
rieus disadvantage. The investigation
has only Incidentally touched state
shipments from distributing eenters,
particularly in less than carloads. The
few instances examined suggest the
probability Of determinations on
Such shipments, which, taken in con-
aectloR with through traffic, may re-
suit In Determinations on interstate
business.
This investigation has shown very
clearly one glazing defect in the inter
state commerce law, viz, the method
Of Alag and publishing tariffs. AL
though tariff or 4 rate has been filed
with the commission In compliance
with the terms OF the law, none but
the favored shipper may know Of its
existence. Tariffs may DO made ant
rates may be combined in such a man
FER as to make 1t practically impos
zibls tor the ordinary shipper to fnt
them. A. lopg as the state rates arr
pct required to be made public, ant
shippers uss such rates in combina
ton with Interstate rates, all ,pannel
Of devices to eyade the purpose Of thu
law are possible. All stats Fatas uset
in connection with interstate ship
mepta should be filed with the inter
state commerce commission, and {
radical change should !q be made in thu
direction Of simplifying tariffs apd il
methods OF posting and filing them
Pittsburg Newspaper Man Dead,
Pittsburg, Pa, May flames Mills
for more than 80 years an editoria,
writer Cd the Pittsburg Post, and