Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-28

competing with the Standard. It has used
such purchased or independently organised
companies to kin on competitors by such ci,
of such fake Independent concerns has been
one Of its most effective means Of destroy
ing competition. The Standard has habitu-
tor In a particular locality, while maintain
ing its prices at other places. When COM
petition was destroyed it restored or ad-
van vanced former prices the stand der eas
prices from the same barrel. 1t has palo
employees of independent oil companies for
information to the business OF those
competitors, and has paid employees OF m
dustrial companies to secure the adoption
of its oil in preference to that OF It's COM
petitors. It 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 IN
spectors 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.
The commissions only knowledge OF the
competitive methods of the Standard vi
Company Is obtained from evidence taken
ard was given permission to explain or rebuff
the facts. This evidence, II true. demon
strates that the competitive methods on the
company in the past have been unfair and
even disreputa'ble. Its motto has been the
destruction of competition at any cost, and
this policy has been pursued without much
reference to decency or conscience, and IL
is significant that the larger independent
refners sell the greater part Of their prod
uct in foreign Countries One Independent
testified that IS per cent of his product
went abroad. and said that he could COM
pete with the Standard in Germany where
It's methods as followed in this country
would not be tolerated. but that he could
not compete with 1t here.
Remedies
1fpa ho0
contributed to the Standard Oil monopoly,
and its supremacy must continue until Its
rivals enjoy the same transportation facili-
ties The amended act to regulate COM
merce makes the existing pipe lines COM
mon carriers subject to that act. and the
power to prescribe Just and reasonable
rates, regulations and practices after COM
plant 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 opera
tors. The commission can only act upon
these schedules after complaint has been
made challenging specific rates, regulations
or practices Some complaints are~noW
pending. How far the amended act will
prove adequate to the correction of such
injustice as now exists in respect of this
traffic remains to be seen.
Since in the past petroleum rates have
not always been established to promote,
but often to check traffic, and the tariffs
are more OF less Will uiSCi
nations in favor of the Standard Oil Com
pany. having been built up during series
of years in that view, it may be that this
discrimination will never be eliminated by
any process of complaint against specific
rate or practice. Judging by the past, dis
ordinations as to this traffic may arise
more frequently than those now existing
can be routed out by that method. AS to
no other important traffic is there an ap-
proach to the monopoly of the Standard
Oil Company in that of oil. Under these
conditions it may become necessary to the
uprooting of established wrongs and the
prevention of others that the government
shall fix in the first instance the rates and
regulations for the transportation Of this
traffic. This method has been adopted by
the legislature of one state 1t will prob
ably be found necessary to disassociate In
the case of oil, as in that Of other commod-
tiles, the function Of transportation from
that of production and distribution. What
other remedies in addition to those already
provided 1t may be necessary to prescribe
can be better determined in the near fu-
ture by the results of experience in admin
istering the present law.