The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-17
Oak Grove Magistrate
Is Second to Judge
Lands.
WARRANTS ISSUED
AGAINST AGENTS
Oil Corporations Face 10000
Fine in Chesterfield Court on
Charge Of Peddling Without
Licensc-Sales Were
Made From Tank
Wagons.

II the stand taken by Magistrate
l.. w. Cheetham m. of Oak Grove Dis
trict. in Chesterfield county. on tho
edge OF Richmond, backed BY Comino1 on
wcalth's Attorney j. NJ. Gregory, should
DC upheld By all the courts. the entire
eystem or mana cement OF the sales
OF the great Standard OIL Company
VIII be rerolutionized. For the magis-
tTate, In the discharge OF tho duties
OF his Office yesterday morning issued
warrants against the agents in this
city of the Standard the National and
tho Richmond OIL Companies. and said
agents have been cited to appear be-
FORE Squire Cheathan on March "a
Little have the people Of Richmond
suspected that practically within her
borders -cs second Kcnesaw Noun
tain Lands. who IS not afraid to tackle
the alleged octopus and attempt to
cut off one OF It's most important ten
taclcs--in fact. whole row OF ,enta-
cles
Must Fnec the Music.
But the attempt has been made. and
tho die, so to speak. has been cast
The warrants have not only been is
sued. but havo hecn served. and the
unfortunate agents must appear before
the bar Of Oak Grove Justice. there
to render an account for tho deeds they
arc alleged to have done against the
revenue laws or the state.
The specific charge is that the Stand
ard and the other companies have been
guilty OF peddling oil on the streets
VI Swansboro without having previous
paid a peddler's license, In other
words. 1t Is stated that the wagons
drive about to stores. soliciting o--ers
and delivering the goods at the same
time. in the amount which the mer-
chant desires
1t is contended that this differs from
the lawful practice of first taking or
ders and later delivering thcn,
Now, 1t is the universal custom ~
the Standard to do its business in this
wise. It claims that II Is best for
Itself and for the merchant to have
It's wagons traverse the streets, call
inE IT stores. and there selling such
quantities IS are asked. But squire
Gncathain won't stand for It. Tho
companies arc In for a fine agErerat-
Ing In the maximum $50. 900. and With
no one knows how much moro to come
later.
Proceeding Unhcard or.
Ihe oil agents arc habbcrCaeted
Ihey never heard of such a proceeding
before, and don't know what 10 do
they hope the Swansboro MA gistrate
won't put the Standard out OF business
peddlers license everywhere wonld
cost an immense sum or MONEY. ana
would probably result In an advance
OF cent or two on the gallon or oil.
Or else extra salaries must be naii
i this proceeding IS 10 stand. for
agents to take orders hetoro 49, =
delivered
Up to last night John rs. Rockofel,or
mao not expressed an opinion. but he is
understood to have had night-1onY ~,
Ierences with his attorneys.
the nervy attitude Of the Oak Grove
olneiais was the sensation In South
Richmond yesterday.
Threc Arc Summoned
The papers referred to were served
on - morton Graves. local agent for
the standard Oil Company. C. Al I,iiInt
agent OF the National OH Gonna, 49,,
ri. ". Fessenfcldt. South RIchn,o,a
agent Of the Richmond OIL f,omnan,,
cltins them to appear before N,,i. ;
trate L. w Cheatham in the Oak crave
court Chesterfield county. on Mares
.. 80 70 answer 10 The charge of pcddlins-
without license. - :
While only ono instance of al,ero,
violation of the revenue Law oi,oi,
IN the warrants, Squire chcatha,, ~
terdaN stated that at least tu.a,,,,
counts would be charged 10 e,c,, ~,
these three companies before thozb
lnE' which means that they viii 49,,
De open TO fines amounting 10 s10nOo
Sa.i,, NAMING total OF $40 600 int thc
pubic Golfers if tho allegations az
proven As a penalty for the infrac-
tion OF the license law. tho statuto.
impose minimum fine of 500 FOR ear,,
count ana maximum OF $500. cncI,
SAFE constituting SEPARATE ofense.
tut II Out OF Business.
Although the Standard Oil Companv
and all other like concerns in tb;s
country, have conducted their sale. n,
the past by means Of the tank waron
when goes the rounds to each NOR
chants door. it remained for Suuirc
cheatham and County Constab bio .Jcr-
rel. to discover the alleged COLLATION.
OF the pedling law in this mctho6 of
sale IT Is obvious that If the Chcs-
tcrhcld authorities arc able to M
hold their case. they will have ont
LandiSed 'Kenesaw Mountain" Lands
ana nave struck q mortal blow al the
Standard OIL industry.
1t Is q remarkable fact that In all
the years OF the tank wagons exist
once, so far as can be learned, the
legality Of this method OF sale has
never been tested, II is evident, how
d ever, that before the battle Is over
and the STANDARD downed there will
bc Z legal clash of largest proportions
land one that will traverse the entire
series Of courts. from the leas, To tho
greatest
The foundation upon which the
charges against the three oil COM
panies rests Is the difference between
delivery on order and peddling. De
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