The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-10
pie Of the state Of the benefits

Manchester a few days ago a certain
brand sold at 6 cents a gallon. In
Danville. where there is not SO much
competition. the same oil sold at S 1-.|
cents. while in North Carolina 1t sold
at 10 cents. The difference was in the
degree of competition. Giving stats
tics from States which have inspect
tion, he said that In Arkansas the
price of the same brand varies from
{ cents to II L. cents: In Illinois from
5 1-2 to Is: in Michigan from 8 to Is.
Must Tell Secrets.
Quoting Mr.. Byrd during the income
tax discussion as saying that business
men did not want to be made to tell
their business secrets, he protested
against the provision in the bill which
would make the independent oil deal
ers tell wha they We're doing.
This department. were 1t established.
he predicted, would cost more than
$4,000. The State might get $4,000
or $4,000 ou of 1t above cost. but he
did not think the Legislature would
wiring $4,000 a year from those who
could least afford to pay it, to get
this small sum. It was n good policy
to tax a company, but not to tax the
oil. 1t would make for graft, for
political. unsclentihc graft.
Mr.. Jennings said the fight was not
! really upon the tax. but upon the In
spcction. He favored the passage Of
the bill.
Mr.. Stubs argued that nearly all
the oil. received In his section comes
from Baltimore by boat. It$would b0
absolutely impracticable to have it all
inspected and stamped at all of the
many landing places. Everybody uses
oil In that part Of the State. Bring
some of the people in those counties.
he said. into this building Tonight
Itblindfolded, then switch on these cleo.
trio lights and he would almost run
home. This bill would freeze out tho
independent dealers. The Standard
could then charge its own price, Az,
to political graves. It was stuff. He
had heard this sort OF talk for forty
one years. Talk about the people at
home being engaged in digging politi-
cal grave was rubbish
Virginia, he conten1ed, is not so
poor that she cannot do without put
ting this burden on the people. If the
appropriations are too great, they
could be cut down.
The hour of 6 having arrived tho
chair was vacated.
Willing to Pay. s8
Mr.. Lee was first to ecure the floor
at the beginning of the night session.
He ives much surprised, he said. at the
contradictory arguments Of the OPP
ponents of the bill. The Standard, he
thought, could destroy the independent
were inspection. He would be de-
lighted to pay an inspection tax to
get good oil.
Since this bill was introduced Mr..
Oliver had changed his mind, Before
there should be such ar lenactment.two
facts should be establishe.l: that there
exists a condition which needs remedy.
and that tho remedy proposed would
be effective. He believed oil inspec-
ton was needed to some extent. hut
this measure was not the correct
remedy.
Tho somewhat similar tax on ror-
filters had not resulted in greatly i'm
proved conditions. Dealers In his sec,
ton are selling the same brand with
the same analysts as before at an In
creased price. Mr.. Lee asked him II
he would favor the repeal OF the fer.
%tilizer tan. He could not say but he
thought this matter could 10 nut. on {
more economical basis.
standard Not Fighting.
He did not believe the Standard oil
Company was fighting this measure a
all. It's influence would be felt IL l
was opposed to It. The friends Q
othergcorporattonse did not8fail TO fiEl,
bills which they did not like.
1t seemed to Mr.. Oliver that every
thing sold gnowadays8ha to come u
I, der some board If OIL inspectton8wer
necessary, he thought It ought to u,
turned over to some department. al
ready created and thus save expenses
Speaker Ryrd said In reply that hi
. had absolute proof Of the finger o
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