River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-08-08
METHODS OF OIL
| TRUST ARE SCORED
SECOND REPORT ON OPERATIONS
OF STANDARD COMPANY.
1T HAS RAISED PRICES
Enormous Profits Acquired by Unfair
and UnjustifiabIe Means, Says
Commissioner of Corpora
tions Herbert X. Smith.

Washington, Aug. 6-Significant
revelations were made public Sunday
in report submitted to President
commissioner of corporations, con-
corning the operations of the Standard
Oil company.
In a previous report the means and
methods of the Standard were ex-
planned. The present report sets
forth the results of those methods and
the effect they have had on the con-
sumner of oil and on the profits of the
Standard Oil company. 1t deals with
profits and prices, showing just how
the manipulation of the oil industry by
the Standard has affected the pocket
books of the American people.
Has Raised Prices of Oil.
Commissioner Smith says:
"The Standard Oil company is re-
sponsible for the course of prices of
petroleum and its products during the
last 25 years. The Standard has con-
sistently used it's power to raise the
price of oil during the last ten years,
to the cost of crude OIL
The Standard has claimed that it
has reduced the price of oil; that it
has been a benefit to the consumer,
and that only great combination like
the Standard could have furnished
oil at the prices that have prevailed.
Each one of these claims" says
Commissioner Smith, lis disproved by
this report
Profits Are Enormous.
The increase in annual profits of
the Standard from 1896 to 1904 was
over $27,000,000. The report says:
"The total dividends paid by the
Standard from 1882 to 1906 were $751;
922,904, averaging thus 24.15 per cent
per year. The dividends, however,
were much less than the total earn
ings. 1t is substantially certain that
the entire net earnings of the Standard
from 1882 to 1906 were at least $780,
100000, and possibly much more.
''These enormous profits have been
based on an investment worth at the
time of it's original acquisition not
more than $75,OO0O0O."
In his letter to President Roosevelt
transmitting the report, Commissioner
Smith says:
Methods of Trust Scored.
"The following facts are proven:
The Standard has not reduced mar
gins during the period in which it
has been responsible for the prices of
oil. During the last eight years COW
cred by this report (1S9S to 1905) it
has raised both. prices and margins.
It's domination has not been acquired
or maintained by it's superior efficien-
cy, but rather by unfair competition
and by methods economically and
morally unjustifable. The Standard
has superior efficiency in running it's
own business; it has an equal efficien-
cy in destroying the business of COM
petitOrs. 1t keeps for itself the
profits of the first and adds to these
the monopoly profits secured by the
second. It's profits are far above the
highest possible standard of a reason
able commercial return, and have
been steadily increasing. Finally, the
history Of this great industry is his
tory of the persistent use of the worst
industrial methods, the eXaction of
exorbitant prices from the consumer,
and the securing of excessive profits
for the small group of men who over
a long series of years have thus DOM
mated the business"
In few days another section of the
report will be made public, setting
forth the Importance of price discrim-
ination in restraining the business of
competitors and augmenting the prof
it's of the Standard.
Jap Seal Raiders Routed.