Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-07-27
Flood Washington With Pro-
tests Against Provisions of
Food Control Bill.
REPRESENTATIVES GET BUSY
Congressman and Senators
Show Conferees Follies and
Failures of Law.
By OMER X. BENEDICT.

(World's Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON. July 26.-Okla-
homa congressman today have re-
ceived hundreds of telegrams from
refineries oil producers and CONNER
cial bodies, protesting against the
peculiar regulations of the oil indus
try included in the food control bill.
These kilograms are being filed with
the confcrees who are in session, ana
there is some hope entertained that
the provisions will at least be
Strengthened out so as not to interfere
with production OF crude oil,
The food bill, primarily is a war
measure, as 1t so plainly states, and
while II provides for the control by
the president of foods, feed and
fuel" including gasoline and kero-
gene. IL further provides for the taK-
ing over OF oil and gas wells and pipe
lines. Not only Is that authority
given the president under the classifi-
cation of mines" but the bill specially
states what "a mine is and makes the
mine subject to control. but there Is
no provision in the bill that protects
the oil man in seeing that he is fur
nished pipe and other supplies.
No Provision to Drill Wells.
The bill grants full power to take
over any well. but makes no provision
to drill wells. and unless the price
made under the bill is deemed salts
factory to the producer, certainly
there is no way the president or any
other power could force a producer
to drill an additional well.
This presents a very peculiar situa-
ton, inasmuch as the main factor
of the OIL business is speculative;
and it is claimed by well informed
oil men that nothing could be don. 10
discourage development more than
the operation OF this law.
The most foolish thing in the bill
Is an amendment TO No. 46. which
reads: The word mine as used in
this section shall be held to include
oil and gag wells and oil and gas pipe
lines"
Foolish Provisions.
The section provides that the presl-
dent may take over any factory or
mine in an emergency, but only for
use and maintaining Of the army and
navy.
OF course nobody expects the presi-
dent under that section to take over
any gas well or any gas pipe line.
If he did. he would have an elephant
on his hands, and after getting It
Wpulu uoubl bNth ooihtpphy "
help him let go. No one in Washing
ton has been able to know wherein a
gas we'll or gas pipe line would
serve the army and the navy, but this
is Just one of those foolish things that
crept into the bill because none OF the
oil men happened to be ION the Job"
TO straighten out the same, and shows
the utter ignorance of the oil business
OF those who are responsible for the
bill.
Chandler Suggests Remedies.
Congressman Chandler has prepared
a very forceful argument In favor Of
remedies. which he has presented to
Chairman Lever.
"Oil and oil products, reads Mr.
Chandler's statement have not ad-
vanced in price since the commence
ment of the war. crude oil remaining
at the same price. with the exception
of 10-cent advance in the California
field and this is the only industry
that has not advanced in price enor-
mously. The price of supplies has
advanced from rs to 400 per cent and
the cost of labor at least rs per cent.
1.-The oil producer in drilling for oil
hazards any sum from $4,000 to $780,
600 that he will get producing we'll.
and If he fails he loses tlis vast sum
OF money; therefore, unless he can get
fair return for his product. he will
not risk the loss In opening new pools.
And unless new pools are found pro-
duction declines rapidly, and there
fore the industry should be fostered
and helped"
Other OklahOmnns Protest.
Senator Gore says he will do what
he can with the conferees to remedy
the bill.
Senator owen is out of the city, but
Congressman Hastings and other
members will also appear before the
conferees and try to untangle the
mess in which the senate has left the
bill.
A proposition that will perhaps as
tound the oil men of Oklahoma, or
would If it were not so ridiculous. Is
the fact official Washington believes
that 10 per cent profit Is amply ade-
quate. Some of those who will have
to do with the control and taking over
of oil properties seem to think that all
that is necessary to produce oil is for
John Doe and Richard Roe to go out
and drill hole anywhere in Okla
homa and begin piping oil, and they
could then figure up the cost of this
particular hold, add 10 per cent and
think they were acting magnanimous
toward the oil men.