The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-31
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
GENERALLY LAMBASTtO.
Practically Whole Senate Membership
Takes Whack At Prosperous
Sinner.
Dissolution A FICTION.
Soaring Price Of Gasoline Held to BE
Outcome of Unlawful Combination
of Standard OIL Group-Independ-
cnts' Crocodile Tears.

/ Washington, March 30.--The stand
ard Oil Company was the target OF a
com bined attack by almost the en-
! tire mem hership OF the Senate today
ia connection with the high price OF
| gasoline. Senator MARITIME. of New
Jersey. introduced a resolution direct
ing the Attorney-Generalt to investigate
whether the phenomenal increase in
gasoline Is the result OF any violation
Of the laws OF the United States
In the preamble 10 the resolution,
II WAS stated the high price OF gaso-
lire is due to the monopoly control
ot the Standard Oil com bination and
Other interests" The resolution Itself
We adopted without objection, but
final action on the preamble was de-
terred. 1t will come UP later.
MARITIME On Subject.
Fpeaking in favor OF his resolution.
Senator MARITIME said;
Gasoline is a prime necessity. II
IL No longer an article that affects only
those who ride IN automobiles for
nearly every commercial wagon Ia be-
ing drawn by gasoline and on every
farm, and in almost every workshop,
gas, line Ia used as a propelling and
motive power. The tremendous ad-
vance in tho price of this commodity
has hgitated our people; IL Is the pre-
]
article is controlled. owned and its
price advanced. from time to time by
the Standard Oil Company. and It Is
the'r desire that the subject be In
gest.gated."
Il have not the slightest doubt in
! my mind that the increase in the price
! OF gasoline we have witnessed during
the last few months Is altogether with
out excuse" said Senator Sutherland,
{
matter Is thoroughly investigated It
VIII be found some people have been
violating the law and ought to be
! prosecuted "
Standard Oil Held Responsible.
/ We need have no delcaey here in
mentioning the Standard Oh Com
! pay" Senator Hitchcock interrupt
ed. 1T seems TO me the evidence is
Com biete that n Standard Oil combin~
atiaH exists which control the price Of
oil. 1t holds an umbrella over the
few Independents TINT exist Under II
they follow the big company and
quote the same price; 80. in effect. the
Standard OIL monopoly does fix the
price for the whole counrY."
Since the so-cailed Standard OIL
dissolution Ave years ago." continued
Senior Hitchcock. dividends have aR-
Freseted 1920. 900, 900, and in addition
thereto. s1s9,oOo.ooo in paid up stock
a. par, total in cash and stock divi-
dcnds in the last five yenrs--since the
SO -rslled dissolution--of f4b9.000, 00C
distributed to stockholders OF the
Standard OIL Company
Il think we should not be backward
In Sts ting In this resolution what every
. trade paper states and what Is in the
mouth of every person-that the high
pr.ce Of gasoline is due to the fac
that a combination Of the Ho-called
Standard OH group Is controlling the
: price by a monopoly and deriving
= enormous dividends as a result"
Senator Ashurst referred to the fact
that testimony taken by his committee
4 in the Usage oil lease investigation
, showed that Standard OH controlled
, tho producers by representation or
, their directorates and iuFisted upor
the right TO market tho product and
by-I roduct,
Dissolution a Fiction.
Senator Hardwick asked
Ia II true or only fiction that
ths Standard OH Company has beer
dissolved?"
Il presume that, legally. II has beer
dissolved" replied Senator Ashurst
hut, in fact. II has not been dissolved
and every senator knows II"
tariff bill was under consideration by
the Finance Committee" said Son.
ator Stone, and we we're considering
a tax on gasoline. the Standard oil
Company did not appear. but kept far
In the background, The independent
companies. so-called, came TO The
MON bsrs Of our committee with tears
in their eyes and told us that If we
put gasoline on the free list It would
help the Standard on Company"
Every senator here knows-not
r1evely thinks-that consumers OF
gasoline are being robbed by some
thieves" Senator Stone added.
1T seems" said Senator MARITIME
that all these companies are part OF
a harmonious whole Are we TO go
inofore them with Bonded knee and
fearful eye and say we cannot tell the
trait about them simply because they
are the Standard OIL Company 90
Senator Heke Smith suggested that
TIE name Standard Oil be struck out
oF the preamble and the words The
unlawful comination." substituted
Il do not want to say the moon
is made OF green cheese when I know
lit In not true" answered Senator Mar
:in@,