The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-04

| The Kansas statutory rates were put
| into effect as a result of an inyestiga-
ton in 1905, into the question of dis
| crlmlnatory rates and secret rates af-
forded the Standard Oil Company.
whlch rates 1t has been pointed out
| gave the Standard Oil Company a
monopoly on the oil business of Kan
sas After the establishment of the
| statutory rates in 1905, the Nationa |
Refining Company and other independ-
| ent interests invested millions of dol
| lars in the oil business of Kansas.
| which business will be wrecked if the
| old rates are restored.
1t is claimed that the restoration of
! those rates will affect every consumer
of petroleum and its products in the
state of kansas. AS an illustration of
| this point, 1T is alleged that the old
rate on oil coming from Southeastern
Kansas to Topeka in L. c. L. would
be 312 cents more per gallon than at
present, and over cents per gallon
more in carload lots. In other words,
While the present rate from CoffeyviIle
to Topeka is S1h cents per hundred on
both carloads and less, if the statutory
rate were knocked out, the L. c. l..
would be "a cents per hundred and the
| carload rate 81 cents per hundred
Eliminate Independent Jobber
In the western part of Kansa the
rate would run as high as 80 cents
per hundred in less than carload lots.
and 15 cents per hundred in carload
lots, as against a present rate of 49,
cents on both carload and L. C l.
lots. Macewen further points out that
the standard Oil Company have ap-
proximately 280 tank stations from
which they can distribute by tank wag-
on, so that the increase in less than
carload rates on the commodities COW
cred by the statute in question would
not affect the Standard Oil Company
70 nr v,11 0-io !
mate the Independent refiner and the
jobber from doing any business in less
than carload lots to the retail dealer
and the consumer.
Another peculiar coincident that is
made mention of by Macewen is the
fact that recently, the Standard Oil
Company discontinued CONTRACTING on
fuel oil, which opened up a market for
the Independent refiners. but with a
tremendous increase in freight rates
fuel oil could not be used and the in
dustries now using it for fuel would
have to turn to coal 1t is claimed that
the interstate commerce commission
has established ON petitions of the Ma
tional Refining Company, much lower
rates on interstate business from Kan
sas points than is contemplated by the
railroads on business moving within
the state of Kansas
Another coincident that Macewen
points out is that while the National
REFINING Company, the Cudahy Refin-
ing Company and the Uncle Sam Com
pany have been made defendants in the
suit along with the attorney general
and the public utilities commission the
Standard Oil Company who also use
the present rates, have not been made
defendant.
Throw Out Topeka Branch.
The National Refining Company is
one of the pioneers in the work of in
vestigating the Standard Oil Company
both in the eastern part of the United
States and in the western portions, and
have refineries located at Cleveland
Marietta, F'indlay, in addition to the
Coffeyville refinery, and also have
branches in Topeka. Salina, Wichita.
Leavenworth and Kansas City, Kan
sas He claims these branches would
have to go out of business if the old
rates were restored.
Undoubtedly the independent oil in
terests of Kansas will join together in
a body to protect the present rates as
it would mean ruin and disaster to them,
if the old rates were restored. Many
of the refineries are compelled - haul
their crude oil to the refineries in tank
cars. while the Standard Oil company
secure their supply by pipe line at a
very low rate of cost in transportation
and by being compelled to pay the ex-
orbitant rates into the refinery and ex-
orbitant rates out, they would be I'M
able to operate. Macewen has been in
consultation with Attorney General
Dawson for two or three days and
while he does not pretend to speak for
Dawson, his opinion is that Mr.. Daw-
son will vigorously oppose any increase
in the present rates.