The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-03-08

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6.75. while that Of the MacArthur-Gil-
lespie syndicate was 1850.
Later Mr.. Oliver gave notice that he
had entered into partnership with
Frederick c. Stevens, president of the
Commercial National bank of New
York city, who was recently appointed
state superintendent of public works.
Canal Contract Held Up.
Notwithstanding the semioficial an
nouncement that the bid Of w. j. Oil
yer for the Panama canal contract had
been accepted conditionally. President
Roosevelt issued a statement contra
dieting the previous announcement and
saying that 1t had not been finally de-
cided that the contract would be
awarded to any Of the bidders. OIL
ver's bid would be considered when it
was put in proper shape, but it was
quite possible that, after all, the con
struction would continue under the
direct supervision of the government.
Oil Trust Again Pilloried.
In a report submitted to congress the
interstate commerce commission told
what it had found out about the rela-
tons between common carriers by rail
and the oil industry, acting on the res
olution of congress passed last March.
The report points out the methods by
which the Standard Oil company has
built up and perpetuated its monopoly
and the relations Of transportation
agents to that monopoly" 1t does not
hesitate to say that "the ruin Of it's
competitors has been a distinct part of
the policy" pursued systematically and
persistently by that company.
1t states that the handling Of petro-
leum from the we'll to the consumer is
largely monopolized by the trust and
that its margin of profit is very large.
Estimates show a profit on refined oil
from the Sugar Creek refinery at Kan
sas City from 5 to s cents a gallon. A
much higher profit is indicated for gas
oline, and the evidence does not sup
port the contention. that the enormous
dividends are legitimate results of
economies, for the trust has little adj
vantage over the Independents except
for its pipe lines. These lines. how
ever, enable the Standard to absolute
ly control the price of crude petroleum.
The commission finds that the rights
Of way owned by railroads has stood
as a Chinese wall against all attempts
to extend competing pipe lines. Sew
eral instances were given to show dis
elimination favorable to the Standard,
resulting from the published railway
rates. One was the increase from 10
to II cents a hundred on the rail rate
from Kansas oil wells the moment the
Standard had connected its refinery at
Sugar Creek with the pipe line.
Referring to the system Of running
competitors, the. commission says that
the trust has organized a perfect sys-.
TEN Of espionage over the shipments
Of competitors SO that they know the
destination Of every car Of oil leaving
an independent refinery. and the Stand
ard agent at the destination is held re.
sponsible if the independent oil is sold.
The report says that at the present
time every considerable ra,1road in the
United States is buying of the Galena
Oil company, a Standard subsidiary.
most Of its %lubricating and signal oil
Notwithstanding that oils of the same
grade can be bought in the open mar
ket for oae-half the Galena price. 1t
is stated also that the Standard regu-
larly pays employees Of the independ-
ents for information as to the business