Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-02-11
'keters who know all the fine points OF
shipping.
OIL Men Are Catching
II Going and Comma

| Today, at oklahoma city, tho oil
men, with the tanks. gathering lines
and pipe lines, are likely 10 catch II,
because ns has been stated in this
| column the governor is endcavoring
10 raise the assessed valuation be-
cause pipe has advanced in price. II
Is truo that steel ~ very high and has
increased In purchase cost consider
ably over last year and this - lust
whore the rub comes in. As one man
puts Il:
This prohhitiye cost OF material
has caused new development 10 be
retarded, aud. consequently. produc-
tion has decreased and the shortage
OF crude and refined products for the
adequate prosecution Of the war and
some stop undoubtedly will be taken
IN the immediate future to either help
finance the oil industry or to place
certain advantages at their disposal
FOR tho continued development OF the
eli industry, he most necessary OF
all
The state government should keep
this fact constantly In mind, that the
al vnlorum taxes a. fixed against the
ol industry is very small proportion
OF the general revenue assessed and
the gross production tax. unanimous ely
conceded 10 be unfair. the lioense tax
the various federal taxes and all OF
this coupled with the high cost or
producing and refining crude oil has
placed the oil industry on the verge
Of disaster.
II IS conceded In this state that
the gross production tax supports the
government OF the state almost within
Itself and now for the state board
To make 90 per cent increase on
general taxable valuation of pipe ana
storage. based upon =ihe eSorbitant
purchase price Of steel. made 80 by
the demand for war purposes, Ia GER
tainly patriotism based upon the dol
lars or personal satisfaction that may
be extracted from the industry.
THE United States treasurer Is re
questing the bit oil Interests TO refrain
from improvements and extensions,
ana even the building OF homes that
are not absolutely necessary for the
conduct OF their business, so that this
money may be saved for financing
this war and In furnishing the much
needed petroleum products Also that
the prices on petroleum products be
kept down with approximately the
ibhIhln VI ii'AiA hb pl'N"f'u
one year ago, In face of the fact that
labor and everything that enters into
the proposition has Increased and
more than doubled and tribled In
many instances. That this Is being
done can be seen at glance at prices
which outside OF fuel oil in ISOLATED.
instances caused By railroad cohges-V
ton and the transporting value OF
tank cars. is Just about where they
were this time last year
ION men and tho oil industry arc
very patriotic and are receiving much
praise from Washington for their at
titude, and u the state government,
wilfully or otherwise, insists upon i'm
posing unreasonable burdens upon the
ihdustry in view Of the conditions we
are facing and n part OF, Washington
should request hands Off" and this
will be done thru the proper applica-
ton of the case upon its known mer
its.
"a stay or Judgment should be
asked OF the state equalization board
so that the matter may be gone over
IN an amicable Why, and II relief In
not forthcoming then. tbe industry
will have no hesitancY In asking
10 interfere. There are
limitations In normal times and there
Is no idea OF countenanclng these
unfair perEecutiouy in
times like this. oil men must be con
stantly awake to the situation"