The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-01-31

panies reducing prices. Tho operation
OF such fake independent concerns
has been one of the most effective
means of destroying competition. The
standard has habituoliy reduced the
price against its competitors IN
Its prices at other places. When com
petition was destroyed IL advanced OF
restored former prices"
restored former prices. The standard
has sold different grades OF oil ut DIFF
fcrcnt prices from the Same barrel. IL
has paid employees OF independent oil
companies for Information as 1, tho
business OF those competitors ana has
paid employees OF Industrial companies
TO secure the addition OF Its oil I'm
prcferece TO that OF It's competitors.
IL hn Sfollowed every barrel OF indie
pendent oil To It's destination. It's
agents are instructed TO secure Gus
toners mt auy sacrifice. IL has lamp
cred with tho oil inspectors In differ
cnt states. The laws Of several states
concerning the inspection OF oil are
sinsulariy defective. and this has been
turned to- profit by the standard"
As 20 Remedies.
ON the question of remedies the re-
port says
More than anything else tho pipe
limo has contributed to the standard
oil monopoly. and it's supremacy must
continue until Its rivals enjoy the
same transportation facilities. The
amended act to regulate commerce
makes the existing pipe lines common
carriers subject To that act. and tho
power To prescribe just and reasonabl.
rates. regulations and practices, after
complaint and hearing. IL conferred up
ON the commission. hut the pipe line
tariffs filed with the commission arr
alleged To b.. OF no actual advantage
tn the independent operators. The
schedules after complaint has been
made challenging such reference rates.
regulations or practices"
Some complaints are now pending.
How far the amended act VIII prove
adequate To the correction OF such In
Justice as now exists la respect To this
traffic remains tn be seen.
Since I'm the past petroleum rates
have not always been tablished to
promote. but often To check traffic. and
the tariffs arr more or less permeated
with determinations In favor OF the
standard OH company. having been
built up during q series OF years In that
view. II may be that this dlscrimina-
ton will never be- eliminated by any
process Of complaint against n specific
rate or practice. Judging by the past.
determinations as To this traffic may
arise more frequently than those now
existing can be- routed out by that
method. As To- no other Improvement
traffic Il there an approach To the
monopoly of the Standard OIL I'm that
Of oil Under this condition II may be-
come necessary To the uproOting or es-
tahlished wrongs and the prevention OF
others that the government shall FIX
In the first instance the rates and reg
ulatious for the transportation OF this
traffic. This method has been adopted
by the legislature OF one state. IL prob
ably Will he found necessary TO dis
associate Ia tho case OF oil. az I'm that
OF other commodities. the function OF
transportation from that OF production
and distribution. What other remedies
In addition TO those already provided
Il may be necessary To prescribe can DO
better determined I'm the near future by
the results OF experience In administer.
ing the present law"