The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-10
NOT FRIEND THERE
Standard Oil Company Handled
without Gloves i'm Senate.
Members Take Pleasure in Ad-
ministering Jabs.
CUT OFF INSPECTORS.
Entire Force of Five Men to Be
Dropped.
Conference Committees Are
Still Unable to Agree.
CUT OFF INSPECTORS.

Judging from the expressions that
were given utterance relative to the
Standard Oil comuany in committee of
the whole Tuesday afternoon, that
concern has few friends in the state
senate. The "anvil chorus against
the Standard got into action during
consideration of the substitute bill
offered by the committee on oil and
gas for S. B. No. 80. providing for the
abolishing of the offices of the five
deputy oil inspectors and changing the
fees for inspection of oils.
There was scarcely any opposition to
cutting OFF the five deputy oil inspec-
of the bill which reduced rates of in
spection on refined oil was opposed
with avidity.
Practically all the senators had
something to say relative to this bill
before the discussion ended. Senator
Hodges was armed with a lot of figures
showing how much revenue the state
derived annually for inspection of oil
According to these figures the Stand
ard Oil company last year paid into
the state treasury for oil inspection the
sum of $2S,43S, while all the other oil
concerns paid less than $4,000 Sena-
tor Hodges did not favor reducing the
inspection fee for fifty barrels and
more from ten cents to five cents per
barrel. This in effect would mean that
the amount would be taken away from
the stale ana dOQeQ O..aIne aIreddY
large profits of the Standard
Senator Brewster mentioned that the
Standard has not paid the fine assessed
against it by the courts in favor of
for measure that would mean the
handing over of several thousands dol
lars to the oil trust.
Senator Stavely, who also had a
bunch of figures relating tc the oil in
dustry. declared that the Standard and
all the other oil companies have been
robbing the state for years. "Ten
times more of the refined oil of the
nually than from all the other com
panies combined" declared Senator
Stavely. Low grade oil is being
dumped onto the people and 7 for one
am in favor of making the inspection
more rigid than it is at present"
The senator from Usage also assert
ed that an attorney for the Standard
has been hanging around the senate
for the past two weeks which indicated
that his company is interested in the
bill. "A decrease in inspection fees
said Senator Stavely. will not AFFECT
the price of kerosene at all. The dirty
evil smelling oil now palmed off on the
people is disgrace to the state
1t was brought out during the dis
cussion that the cost of oil inspection
is about $4,000 year. but the fees de-
rived from this work leaves the state
about $4,000 to the good.
After nearly all the senators had
given the Standard a few unlxind words
1t was decided to pass the bill over
without definite decision until the mer-
Its of the bill could be further in
vestigated.
While in committee of the whole. with
Senator Lower in the chair. the senate
passed number of bills, including the
following:
S. B. No. 10, by Myers, abolishing
the offices of underSheriff in Jefferson
and Jackson counties.
s. B. No. 1Sa. by OnincX relating to