The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-02-08

William j. Oliver. percentage Of
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 it 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 1t was
quite possible that, after all, the con-
struction would continue under the
direct supervision of the government.
Oil Trust Again PIloried.
In report submitted to congress the
interstate commerce commission told
what 1t 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 1.-The ruin of Its
competitors has been distinct part of
the policy pursued Systematically and
persistently by that company.
1t states that the handling OF petro-
leum from the well to the consumer is
| largely monopolized by the trust and
that its margin of profit is very large.
Estimates show profit on refined oil
| from the Sugar Creek refinery at Kan
| sas City from to S cents 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 ad-
vantage over the independents except
| for It's 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 1C
| to II cents q hundred on the rail rate
from Kansas oil wells the moment the
Standard had connected its refinery al
| Sugar Creek with the pipe line.
Referring to the system of running
| competitors, the commission says thai
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 IL the independent oil Is sold
| The report says. that at the present
time every considerable railroad in the
United States Is buying Of the Galenf
OIL company, Standard subsidiary
most Of its lubrlcating and signal oil
| Notwithstanding that oils of the same
grade can be bought in the open mar
ket for one-half the Galena price. i
Is stated also that the Standard regu
larry pays employees Of the indepcnd
! ents for information as TO the bushes,