Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-01
CONTEMPLATING DUTY
MUST BE TAKEN OFF
Sum of $aooooooo Paid by American
Consumers Because of Inability to
Procure Russian PetroIeum-Price of
Labor Would Not be Affected by Re-
movaI of Duty.

Especial Correspondence


positive terms, that the countervailing
duty on petroleum and it's products
must be removed. He makes no con-
ditions about it; he has put it in the
most positive terms. "Must" is the
word he has used several times.
Some of the people who have re-
ceived inspiration at the White House
have been looking into the workings
of the petroleum duty, and have dis
covered some interesting things. Back
in 1907 the bureau of corporations
made an investigation of the petroleum
business in this and other countries,
which resulted in the production of
an immense volume that nobody ap-
pears to have taken the trouble to
read. But just now it is developing in
terest for statesmen.
Porting over it's pages, they learn
that Russian oils sell in England and
| Germany at and 3 cents per gallon
wholesale less than American oils
command in the wholesale markets of
this country. There is about 1.50o,000,-
GOO gallons of Illuminating oil sold an
nually in this country.
America Pays the Bills.
At . cents the gallon, this means
that s3o,ooO,OoO more is paid for oil
by the American consumer under
present conditions than would be paid
by him If he got the benefit of the
European price. American oil goes to-
the European markets and sells at the
prevailing prices, less than those
charged in the United States, because
it is compelled there to meet the Rus
sian competition.
Russian oil can't get into the I'm
tied States because of the counter
vailing duty. The American customs
officers impose, under this provision.
the same duty against Russian oil that
Russia charges against American oil.
There is an interesting charge, which
it is said will later he aired on the
terests have made it an object to the
grand dual clique in Russia to keep
the duty there as high as it is now. At
any rate, as the countervailng duty
works, the treasury exports figure it
out that the tax on Russian Oil COM
ing to this country would be-if any
away above 100 per cent, and utterly
prohibitive. The first inquirer who
went to the treasury to ask about the
matter discovered that the customs
officers didn't know what the duty
was; they had to get together a lot
of statistics, data, copies Of the law,
opinions and rulings, and figure for an
hour before they could announce that
If a0yIIon6I- chnn11 anItl>ipp
senseless as to import Russian petro-
leunl, he would have to pay 1872 cents
duty on it.
Labor Will Not Be Affected.
The argument in favor of the reten-
ton of the countervailing duty is
that it protects the American producer
of crude oil. To this the reply is made
that the Standard pays as little now
for crude oil as it can pay and induce
production. L can not we'll pay less
and get the oil; therefore. instead of
taking the 2 or 8 cents out of the con-
sumner it would have to take them out
of it's profits. And then comes tabu-
lation of Standard profits, intended to
show that it is making enough to en-
able it to stand the loss without hurt
ing it,
And anyhow, it didn't have to pay
the Sa9,O00,00O fine, and something
ought to be done to it. they always add.
Senator Weldon B. Hepburn, of Ida
no, is the head of the senate division
of the joint commission on revision of
the laws AS such he has some patron
age at his disposal. The discovery of
Just how much of it he has, however,
was not made until the recent distribu-
; ton of committee assignments in the
upper house
Hepburn wanted to go on the iudic-
larry committee, and the committee in
charge of assignments declined to per-
NIT it, Heyburn's colleague, Borah
was a member of this committee, anG
made strong talk for Hepburn as one
: of the best lawyers and most usefu
: men in the senate. When he was done
t a senator walked across the room anC
e laid down IN front of Mr.. Borah a sir
of paper on which were written some
L names and figures. The first item was;
e E. M. Hepburn, $4,000.
n The list figured up five or six names
e with a total of about $4,000; and i
e was explained this represented the sen
e ators senate patronage, placing hin
we'll up to the top Of the senatorial sal
Y ary list n NJ. Hepburn is his brother
: and is employed on the revision or Tn
p laws Another $4,000 place is CREDITED
Z, to the Idaho senator, with others a
: minor figures, making UP the hand
: some total named. That was the rea
son why the committee didn't thinl
he needed place of judiciary.
q Senator Hepburn, not knowing o
O this incident in the committee, late
d made protest to Senator Aldrich, AM
= insisted on being assigned to judiciary
; Aldrich assured him it was impossi
e BILE.
II Then Hepburn, as the story run:
Ia threatened to resign from the revisio
If Of the laws committee.
Is IT don't think you will do that,
~ quietly responded Senator Aldricl
i considering the amount of patronag
j. you have there"
le And the Idaho senator hasn't ye
j. resigned.
Where General Corbin made his mis-
tcle, when ne sold that COW to Mr.
% Taft, was not in realizing what fin
Is line Of free advertising his Jersey hos
e. sizes were going to get for nothing.
r IL the general had had the CONNER
l. cial instinct, instead Of merely the mi