Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-25
Government Investigator Says
81 Limit All Washington
Will Countenance.
FEDERAL FIXING PREDICTED
Soaring Cost of Lubricants
Looks Like Trick to Get
Even on Gasoline.
By OMER X. BENEDICT.

(World's Washington Correspondent }
WASHINGTON Aug. Am Ian
guage that was nothing more or less
than threat, DR.. l.. II. Haney, in
charge Of cost Investigations of oil
and oil products for the federal trade
commission, today stated that con-
tinued increase in the price OF crude
oil in the mid-continent field would
result In government control OF prices
of fuel oil.
The weight or authority for this
statement | am unable to determine.
According to Doctor Haney. the pro-
ductlon of crude oil was considered
very profitable at s1.70, regardless OF
the greatly increased cost OF ma
terials. labor. etc.
This fact he said, was brought out
In the recent hearings before the COM
mission held for the purpose of de-
termining reasonable prices for re-
fined products. based on the prevail
ing price of crude OIL which was then
$40.
Two Dollars Limit.
He also intimated that the bigger
operating companies took advantage
OF the commissions decision and that
Nl' ~ lNN vi uut llltl' -
after was increased to SO "A barrel. He
stated that it was the opinion of the
federal trade commission that 50 was
the maximum price the commission
would tolerate, and said that If the
price continued to increase the com
mission would take immediate steps
toward federal price-fiXing on fuel
oils.
"Do you mean that another ten-cent
increase would result in the govern
ment taking immediate action?" he
was asked
mo, | do not mean that, In fact.
do not mean to make any official
statement of what the federal trades
commission will do. but | do say that
a 10 cent increase very probably
would result in government control
OF prices, or even a cent raise but
SO far nothing has been decided upon
officially further than the commission
is agreed that 50 is much higher
price than the conditions warrant
according to our investigation.
Higher Price Unfair.
I'VE know that a further increase
OF crude will either mean a higher
price for refiner products or a hard
ship on the Independent refiners, and
either is injurious to the public well
fare, as well as being unwarranted
by the cost of producing crude oil at
this time. Two dollars a barrel for
mid-continent crude is enough" he
concluded.
1t is reported that there is an
agreement between the larger COM
panies to not increase the price of
gasoline, and that it will not be in
creased in price until the alleged
agreement expires. 1t is known that
while gasoline prices have not ad-
vanced for a long time the prices of
lubricating oils have increased enor-
mously
1t Is contended by those who are
In a position to know that the big
companies would rather keep the
price of gasoline down, thereby keep
ing down a howl of the public in gen.
eral. and to reap their profits off OF
lubricating oils supplied to a few
compared with gasoline consumers
thus minimizing discomfort, and at the
same time get as much or more profit
out of a barrel of crude as they would
with reasonable prices for lubricating
oils, and higher prices for gasoline.
There has been a great deal said
about patriotically conserving gaso-
line as the price remains down. but
little has been said about economizinG
on lubricating oils as the price con-
tinues to soar. one is as essential 10
CONTINJ ED ON PAGE FIVE