The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-16
Mo win PAY. the FINEi

q
Herbert Knox Smith, United States
commissioner Of corporations, has
maize another lucid and vigorous re.
port on the methods Of the STANDARD
on COMPANY, which will be Of timely
service III the education Of the public
IN regard to the true character Of the
great monopoly. The first report went
INTO the details Of the immense profits
Of the company and Its system Of re-
sates. IN the second report is set
form HE TACT that the price abroad
81 American oil is lower than in the
county where 1t is produced, and
that there 81 also throughout the
united states q marked variation in
prices according to the grip the mo.
nopols Ks able TO exercise in different
IocalItfes,8 saythe st. Louis Globe-Dem
ocrat Commissioner Smiths reports
rave unusual value as public docu-
inents because they show a mastery
81 me facts, give them concisely, and
feallessls goSto the mark, sweeping
aside the subterfuges with which the
monopoly has surrounded itself. A
difference of several cents a gallon in
favor Of foreign consumers is proved.
AS petroleum Is on the free list there
Is no chance to charge this margin
On . protective tariff. The difference
IS due to an exclusive control of the
American market with resulting
poWeft to discriminate and bulldoze in
many directions.
IN the matter Of lubricating oil the
nonopoly has played fayorites, requIr-
Ing some railroads to pay exorbitant
prlces, while one Of the railroad sys-
sens was given a lower price than any
other. Throughout the United States
tire pFice for Illuminating oil are fix.
ia locally imam arbitrary manner, the
cofnpanSs profits varying from less
than y cent a gallon to 4 cents. Data
Obtained from 5000 retail dealers war
ant the statement that there is no
general market price in this country
fof petroleum products. Commission.
er Smith says these variations were
made possibleb by the system Of secret
rebates long carried on by the Stand
ard on Company. The company
Claims that It has made its profits by
superior business ability and econo'
mic improvements. Commissioner
SMITH reaches an opposite conclusion,
diminishing the facts and figures to
cllnch hts opinion that the monopoly
mas adopted and invented unfair meth
dsto destroy competition, oppressed
ne public byextortion, raised prices In
stead of lowering them, and charged
more than would hove been asked by
smaller concerns il they had not been
crpshed in competition.
VINO will pay the fine imposed Il
iIe monopoly can not be curbed? 1t
would take less than a cent gallon
e wipe out the fine Of $29,24o,oOO. In
81 vast a business, covering various
product and reaching into foreign as
weiIs domestic markets, 1t would be
To- hide a manipulation for a
much larger amount of money. The
STANDARD on Company has the power
ID Stiff all fines to the public, and the
ean not be entertained that It
Vim omit toBdo,it A combination In
ettsint q trade, with rebates or
oftief denominations. Is forbidden by
INV. TherefoFe the task in hand Is
Is compel the Standard OIL Company,
ana hi such Organizations, to obey the
tnte that Congress has framed, and
iii must be enforced unless mo
dopoiis ne lobe allowed to run over
ds4l We