The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-01-04

II
production and incidentally of price
This task that has been set for the
legislature has been pretty definitely
outlined by experiences of the last
seven months in the state. during
which production of petroleum has
grown to a figure that makes il i'm
possible for the pipe lines TO carry
more than Is or Is per cent of
the volume
Tried Many Methods.
The corporation commission and
the attorney general have tried many
methods OF maintaining the price of
oil. They have attempted to con-
troll production of oil in order that
there might not be the excuse for
cutting the price that they deemed
was inherent in the local over-sup-
ply. In .frankness IT must be ad-
mittcd that control of production
has so far been Il failure. Contro!
OF the price has not been a success
although il is probable that the price
would have gone lower than it has I
these agencies had not been active
in one way or another As 1t is. The
price has receded from more
than 81 barrel to 55c and
there are producers clamoring 70;
further reduction in order tnat they
may market their oil
Oil producers who want the state
To control production and price have
been working on measures to be in
troduced in the coming legislature.
They have had the assistance of
the attorney general and of corpora
ton Commissioner Henshaw. The
tenor of their measures is toward
restricting production and thus con-
trolling prices. 1t is expected thai
the laws sought will be specific in
the powers conferred upon the cor
poration commission which is to be
the instrument for conservation and
control of the output-and that pro
visions will be made for speedy de
cision by the courts of last resort in
the state of many questions that may
arise as to the scope OF the power
of the commission in these matters.
What the temper of the Legislature
may be on this subject is not known.
In view of the fact that the clamor
for laws that will make the price oI
oil high for producers is directed
against the purchasers which are
the pipe lines. it may be assumed
that the movement will be attended
by considerable popularity On the
other hand. IT is pointed out by per
sons who have studied the whole
question. that low prices for crude
oil may mean cheap gasoline and 9th
cr derivatives for the consumer This
view is taken by Colonel Jack Love,
tlldlIllldJl Ol lAt CblUllli- lOlls W no -
certain OF the present authority OF
the commission is ample to see t.
IL that consumers of petroleum pro-
duets shall have those products at u
price that bears reasonable relation
to the cost of crude Ii is pointed
out by this member of the com
mission that there are many more
of petroleum products In
Oklahoma and in the world than
there are producers of crude oil.
Problem for Lawmakers.
This oil situation is one of the
most interesting matters which may
be expected to confront the law
makers II is also one of the, most
difficult. While there is no proba-
bility that there will be any differ
ence of opinion in the Legislature as
to the desirability OF, preventing abb
solute waste Of oil by~Perpittns II
to flow away or evapot2te there is
every reason to befigyef'that the in
,e,dad ,aemn, os hI la O1nro!