Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-29
STANDARD OIL MONOPOLY
Continued from First Page.)


oil. The Galena company is rarely called
upon to pay anything under the guaranty,
and the prices obtained by the oil company
are extravagantly high. Oils of the same
grade could be bought in the open market
for about one-half the Galena company's
prices"
Plan of AssimuIatiOn.
The report severely arraigns the Stan
dards methods Of competition, saying:
The Standard has repeatedly, afer becom-
ing the owners of competing company,
continues to operate 1t under the old name,
carrying the ideas to the public that the
company was still Independent and COM
peting wish the standard. 1t has used such
purchase or independently organized COM
panles reducing prices. The operation of
such fake independent concerns has been
one of it's most effective means of destroy
ing competition. The standard habitually
reduced the price against It's competition in
a particular locality, while maintaining its
was destroyed 1t advanced or restored
former prices. The Standard has sold
different grades Of oil at at different sat
paid employees of independent oil com
panies for information, as to the business
of those competitors and has paid en-
ployes of Industrial companies to secure
the addition of its oil in preference to that
of it's competitors. 1t has followed every
barrel of independent oil to destination Its
agents are instructed to secure customers
at any sacrifice. 1t has tempered with the
oil Inspectors in different states. The laws
of several states concerning the inspection
of oil are singularly defective, and this
has been turned to profit by the Standard.
competitive methods of the Standard Oil
company is obtained from evidence taken
under oath In this investigation. The
Standard was given permission to explain
or rebuilt facts. This evidence, If true,
demonstrates the competitive methods of
the company in the past have been unfair
nj nd
the destruction of competition at any cost.
and this policy has been pursued without
and IL is significant that the larger indie
pendent refners sell the greater part of
their product in foreign countries. One in
product went abroad and said that he
could compete with the Standard In Ger
this country. would not be tolerated, but
that he could not compete with IL here.
Remedies suggested.
On the question of remedies the report
says:
More than anything else the pipe line has
contributed to the Standard oil monopoly
rivals enjoy the same transportation facili-
ties. The amended act to regulate COM
merce makes the existing pipe lines com
power to prescribe just and reasonable
rates regulations and practices, after com
plaint and hearing, is conferred upon the
commission. But the pipe line tariffs filed
with the commission are alleged to be of
no actual advantage to the independent OPP
orators. The commission can only act upon
! these schedules after complaint has been
made challenging such reference rates, reg
1nx penSing' HOW far the amended act
will prove adequate t. the correction OF
/ such injustice as now exists in respect TO
/ this traffic remains TO be seen.
/ Since In the past petroleum rates have
not always been established to promote,
/ but often TO check trafhc, and the tariffs