The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-02-16
GRIMES. OF STANDARD :. :.
OIL CO. ARE PROVEN
Interstate Commerce Oommis.
sion Confirms All the
Stories Told Them.
Poor John D. Rockefeller is
Shown Up in True Light
by Commission.

Washington, D. c. Feb. 14-Nothine
Absolutely nothing doing!
The Standard Oil company is greater
than the United States, and the sus-
! picions Of many people who have long
felt that this business might be Just a
"leetle'' too dictatorial are reading the
report of the interstate commerce COM
mission issued today, and saying, II
told you SOL" Here is what it says:
Laws Poweriess,
Tho commission finds that tho rail >
road schedules Of, this country are
filled with Determinations Of a char
aeter that favor tho Standard Oil COM
pany, which az tho law stands cannot
be altered"
The commission also takes q. ran at
the subsidized newspapers and tell in
detail how the "Standard" buys space
In papers, and instead of placing ad-
vertisements therein, fill it with read
Ing matter prepared by agents kept
for that purpose.
THE assumption is that this litera-
ture furnishes many of the ideas touch
ing the great benefit conferred upon
the public by the Standard Oil COM
pany'' reads the report.
Any One Can Build Pipe Lines,
Mentioning the pipe lines that are
owned by the Standard Oil company
and constructed at a cost of millions
Of dollars and years Of legislation, the
commission modestly advises other
people to take UP this business as
therein lies the superiority of the
Standard Oil company over its COM
petitors.
Here Is what it says:
1.-The pipeline system of the Stand
ard is not natural, but rather an ar
tificial advantage. Any person with
sufficient capital, and the expense Is
not great can construct and operate
a pipe line.
1.-THE reason why long pipe lines
competing with those of the Standard
have not been crowded is found in
obstacles thrown in the way of such
undertakings, having been opposed by
the railways, whose right of way has
generally stood as a Chinese wall
against all attempts to extend pine
lines. The railways have generally
done all In their power to prevent
their construction by competitors Of
the Standard.
An attempt at the present time to
construct an Independent pipe line
would probably not meet the same sort
Of opposition.
The ruin Of it's competitors has been
distinct part Of the policy of the
Standard Oil company in the past. sys-
tematically and persistently pursued.
....-.. Army 81, Spies.
Zone method has been the oreaniza-
ton OF perfect system of espionage
| over the shipments of its competitors,
resulting In knowledge as to the desti-
nation of every car Of oil leaving the
refinery Of an Independent.
! The Standard agent at the destina-
ton is held responsible If the inde-
pendent OIL Is sold. It does not ap-
pear that the railroad companies have
directed the furnishing Of this infor-
nation, or that the practice has been
sanctioned by superior officials of the
roads, but it does appear, that such in
formation is Systematically obtained
from railroad employees.
| The testimony shows that the
STANDARD at one time, If it does not
now, devoted fund to the purpose of
| obtaining this information.
information also appears to have
been given the Union Tank Line. a.
creature Of the Standard. concerning
the whereabouts Of it's cars. while
such information was not furnished tn
otner owners OF tank cars, and some
discrimination in tank-car mileage in
favor OF the tank line is shown for one
railroad. Many roads issued passes
on account Of the Union Tank Line
which were In fact used by selling
agents Of the Standard.
! The report shows that nearly every
railroad In the country is buying of the
Galena OIL company, one of the Stand
ara OIL companies, most of it's original
and 1ubricating signal oils.
Here are some OF the methods Of
competition INDUCED in by the Stand
ard OIL company.
| A Few Oh "crime..n
| The Standard has repeatedly. after
becoming the owner of a.. comnetinr
company, continued to operate it un
der the old name, carrying the idea
to the pull bile that the company was
still independent and competing with
the Standard.
! 1T has used such purchased or inde-
pendently organized companies tn kill
of competitors by such companies re-
ducing prices.
The operation Of such fake inde-
pendent concerns has been one Of 1ts
most effective means Of destroying
competition.
THE Standard has habitually reduce
ed the price against it's competitor in
particular locality, while maintaining
it's prices in other prices When COM
petition was destroyed 1t restored or
advanced former prices.
The Standard has sold different
grades, Of oil at different prices from
the same barrel.
1t has paid employees Of independ-
ent OIL companies for information "a
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