Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-24
STANDARD O|[CO.
IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR HIGH PRICE

WAOf11NG IO4Ns ~. C.y ApAh G1.-
Domination of the gasoline industry
by Standard Oil interests, the federal
trade commission reported to the SEN
ate today, has been largely responsible
for the high gasoline prices of last
two years.
The report declares interlocking
stock ownership prevents any real
competition among the various STAN
Gard Oil companies and the commits
sion recommends legislation to permit
re-opening Of the oil trust case to
obtain notifications of the supreme
courts dissolution decree.
No conclusive evidence was found, it
is stated that collusion exists among
the Standard companies inviolation of
the decree, but the commissions find
ings have been transmitted to the at
torney general.
Prices are declared to have been
raised arbitrarily. although natural
causes contributed. Pronounced price
inequalities we're found in different
parts of the country.
The principal findings of the COM
mission are:
That in most marketing territories,
the Standard companies are dominant.
That the Standard companies have
maintained distribution of territory
in marketing gasoline, and that no
substantial competition in the chief
petroleum products exists between the
Standard companies.
That the absence of competition is
due to a community of stock owner
ship.
That the facts disclose advances in
prices of gasoline and differences in
price, corresponding to Standard mar
keting territories, which could not be
explained, except under conditions
charged.
That the combination of pipe lines
with other branches of the industry
has, tended to establish and perpetuate
monopoly.
That there is no conclusive evidence
of collusion among the Standard COM
panies in violation of the dissolution
decree.
The commission recommended these
measures as necessary to demedy con-
ditions:
A law providing for the re-opening
of antitrust cases on the application
of the attorney general by a bill OF
review for the purpose of obtaining
such notifications of DEGREES as are
required by new conditions.
Legislation to abolish in certain
cases common stock ownership in cor
porations formerly members of combi-
nations dissolved under the sherman
law.
Effective limitation of common own
ership of stock in potentially compel
tive corporations by Withdrawing the
power of voting and control.
Legislation, which recognizing the
common ownership would fix upon all
such common owners the responsible
ity for the acts of each of the several
subsidiary companies which prevent
competition.
Segregation of ownership of pipe
lines from the other branches of the
petroleum industry.
Congressional enactment to fix stan
dards for gasoline.
Federal collection and publication
of accurate statistics and information
concerning the industry.
Conditions IN the gasoline industry
as uncovered by the investigation are
declared to be:
Gasoline marketing is divided into
eleven territorial divisions, at least
nine of which are said to be under
Standard Oil domination.
Stockholders of the Standard com
panies to great degree are Che same
individuals or interests, with more
than half of the stock of the various
companies in their hands.
Leading officers of the Standard
companies hold considerable stock in
two or more companies.
Standard Oil refineries produced
more than sixty per cent. Of the gaso-
line output in 1915, sold about So per
cent. of the total marketed and held
more than seventy per cent. of gaso-
line stocks.
Correspondence of the different
prices in 1915 with Standard market
ng territories" says the report, "it-