The Red Cloud chief., 1907-02-01

Combine-Fake Companies.
Nashingtos, Jan. 3S.-The inter
tsste cDnmTce commission sent TO
SHagroas q report of the Investigations
Hade by ii under tho Tillman-Gillespie
N.soluUon concerning the relations OF
Se~amsn carriers by rail TO the produc-
49, sna distribution Of oil. The re-
pest oovors the distribution OF pc
trAo and ito products east OF the
Nississpm river, and, incidentally. the
Kansas snd Texas fields. The report
I>&nts out generally the methods by
bkoh NE Standard Oil company has
~ and perpetuated it's monop.
- n - assorted that "the ruin OF
ssnpsitors has been a distinct
u the policy Of the Standard Oil
npsay in tho past. systematically
- vsrsstenAy pursued"
NE Instance the report says, us
1nNA where any railway company has
Interested In oil lands or in pc
eua production.
"rhe Standard Oh company largely
nsaepolises tho handling Of petroleum
lpMa tho mouth IT tho we'll until 1t is
10 the retailer, and sometimes TO
Ne consumer, and under ordinary cir
UmstaaceS its margin OF proft Is very
THO evidence shows little basis for
% contention that the enormous div
AMds of tho Standard Oil company
arc tho legitimate result Of Its eco.
yomics. Except FOR its pipe lines, the
standard has but little legitimate adj
vantage over the independent reiner.
The Standard buys advertising
eVacc In many newspapers which 1t
M's with reading matter prepared by
agents kept for that purpose and paid
Ar az advertising rates, as ordinary
Rows. Tho assumption IS that this
Ksratsre furnishes many Of the ideas
touching the great benefits conferred
Eon the public by the Standard Oil
Ssaa pany.
"Possossion a pipe ines enables
- Standard absolutely TO control the
rr4ee n crNds petroleum and the price
which it's competitors in a given local
~ shall pay. y can raise tho price
- one locality and obtain it's W oil
A~sm another and reverse the process
sassa II desires bo do 20.
The pipe limo system or the Stand.
ore. the report contends, Is not a nat
Fa1, but rAtSo an artificial advan-
@kge. II IN argued that the reason
yhy lo~g pipe line, competing with
-.n ~ ,bA diaAI,rI hoyn mot hnnn
ys~vided is found in obstacles in the
Nv Of such undertakings, having
BEEN opposed by the railroads. whose
Ustt N way has generally stood as q
ehinase won against all attempts ia
extend pipe laos. Ordinarily, 1t is
said, tho Standard has not received
rebatos in recent years, 80 far as has
lnRca discovered. but it has neverthe
u@ enjoyed secret rates possessing
Or Of tho elements o. Illegal rates
a~t tho advantages 80 obtained owe
tnAepenAev shiRpsrs have been o
very great value to that company.
rhs report sov<cly Arraigns TIT
Standards methods a competition
saying:
The Standard has repeatedly, afte
Incoming tho owner OF 4 competing
a pany, continued to operate II ur
der the Odd name, carrying the ide
u uhe public that the company wa
still Independent and competing wit
the Standard. II has used such pul
chased ~ Independently organize
companies to kin of competitors b
~ companies reducing prices. Th
Operations ~ such fake independer
concerns has been one Of its most c
ftcsive means OF destroying comp,
rtion. The Standard has habituall
itor in n particular locality, viii
maintaining its prices at other place
When competition was destroyed
advanced or restored former price
The Standard has sold different grade
81 oil nj different prices from the san
barrel. 1t has paid employees OF ind
pendent oil companies for infOrmatiC
as TO the business Of those compc
itors and has paid employees OF iudu
trial companies 10 secure the adOptlC
of It's oil in preference TO that OF /
competitors. Il has followed eve
barrel OF independent oil to dcs'ir
ton. such information being obtain
from railroad employees. It's agen
are instructed to secure customers
any sacrifice. It has tempered wi
the oil inspectors IN different states
Car,gle.