The Washington times., 1915-04-27

tnat tne navy Is now paying near tW1Ce
as much for its oil as It did in 1911.
Position of Great Britain.
The head Of the British admiralty re-
Gently told parliament that 1t Is now
absolutely necessary that the navy go
into the oil business; own lts oil sup
plies, have Its own feet of ships to
handle 1t, build and manage Its own
retineries and storage facilities.
The navy now uses about 100000 gal
Ions Of oil annually, and yet only part
of 1t Il equipped with oi-burning ap-
paratus. This quantity will be In
creased in the near future to the i'm
nually.
The navy already controls a petroleum
reserve In California, and Mr.. Daniels
demands that have one in the mid
continent field. available for use on tho
Atlantic coast.
In line with the demands Of the Navy
Department, Secretary Lane has had
a report made on a scheme to create q
petroleum division In the Bureau OF
Mines. The legislation for this purpose
has not yet passed, but 1t will be
pressed on Congress at the coming ses-
sion. and Is expected to pass. This Is
looked upon as a step toward getting
the Government actually committed to
ultimate participation in the oil bui-
ness at least to tho extent Of producing
Its own supplies.
People who are interested to have
this Government project developed have
Congress will regard with much inter
est. They propose that two great main
trunk pipe lines be built by the Gov
ernment from the mid-continent field
one to run northeastward, so as to dis
tribute oil to the independent refineries
In the Northern States. where the sup.
plies Of oil are not adequate to meet
their requirements, and where. In order
to operate, they must depend largely on
supplies controlled by other Interest,"
that are engaged in both the piping and
the refining and marketing Of oil. This
competition. 1t Is said. places the In
dependents at such a disadvantage
that they cannot become such factors
In the situation as Ia desirable, unless
they are insured absolutely independent
regarded, by advocates of this plan. al
the only instrumentality powerful
enough to engage in the business witt
assurance Of success.
Secretary Lane told the Committee or
Naval Affairs that he was fully ir
creating Government-owned inde
pendent supply OF oil for naval purposes
His annual report pointed to the neces
sity for such course.
Oil Interests Watching.
There have been charges that. some
how or other, legislation doing with thu
oil situation gets scant consideration
and that the law department of the
Government does not follow up pro
ceedings for recovery of oil lands a.
diligently as 1t should. Democrats, o.
course. make these charges. and sus
gest derelictions Of the last Admins
tration; some Of the Republicans are
disposed to make the "tu auoque" an
swer.
At any rate. the oil interests and thu
public men Of the Southwestern pro
! ducing section are getting deeply inter
| ested In efforts to interest the Govern
nent in q revolutionary handling o
| the whole subject The two Senator
| from Oklahoma have introduced meas
ures calling for inquiries and informa
ton, and 1t is understood that they ar
watching the management of the Osag
! oil land situation with the keenest In
| terest.
| It was recently said or excellent au
! thority that any disposal OF this Osag
! question would be certain to get a.
! airing in Congress. because OF the po
tlitical interests that are now prepared {
| protest continuance OF the old system
OF leasing without reference to Govern
ment and social interests, and withou
thought Of the conservation Of any par
of the national Oil supplies.