The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-09-12
DILL LEASE BILL
PASSES SENATE
AMENDMENT TO PERMIT PHES'
DENT TO FIX PRICES FOR OIL
is VOTED DOWN
STANDARD OIL CO. FLAlLeD
Some Senators Alleee Big Oil Com
psny is Behind Measure, Wnhe
Others See Differently.-Roy-
atty Basis for Leases


record vote the senate Yesterday. after
d 12.hour session. passed me b'iI 10
make possible the leasing of public
lands having deposits Of oil, coal, gas,
phosphate and sodium.
An amendment Ia the bill when
would have authorized the president
to fix and control the prices of coal,
oil and other products derived from
government lands leased under the
measure was rejected earlier. IL I" ~.
Ii was offered by Senator LaFollette,
Republican. Wisconsin, and met
strong opposition from western SEN
atOrs.
Senator Lenroot. Republican, Wis
consin. declared the LaFollette amend
ment would further perpetuate the
control of the Standard Oil company
and would result il, liking the price
Of oil refined by independents while
the standard Oil company would go
free
Senator Pittman. Democrat, said
to control the price of only one-tenth
of the oil produced in this country.
Senator LaFollette. in urging the
amendment again assailed the Stand
ard oil company and said that unless
some steps were taken to control
prices the public eventually would de-
mand that action be directed even
against the Standard Oil company and
the other monsters that have this
country by the throat"
In passing the measure, the senate
approved amendments offered by SEN
| ator Harris. Democrat, Georgia. which
| would provide that under the Clayton
| antitrust act oil companies may not
| charge different prices in various
parts of the country.
Another amendment which its au-
| thor. Senator Harris, said would cause
| the constituent companies of the
Standard Oil company soon to become
independent in ownership in fact as
|
amendment would prohibit stock
holders of corporations producing
petroleum and its byprOducts from
acquiring stock in another corpora
tion similarly engaged II both corpor-
atiOnS have been created i'm con-
Torrance with court dissolution de-
cree or for the purpose of avoiding
prosecution under antitrust acts.
With the exception of the Harris
amendment. the fate of which is UNI
certain in the house, the leasing meas
IRE, as to important features. was
passed as reported by the house lands
committee. Consideration of the bill
was marked by bitter debate during
which senator I.aFollette. who in the
last six days has spoken more than
20 hours, and other senator's charged
that the bill was for the benefit of
the Standard oil company, During the
debate yesterday the Wisconsin sena-
tor charged that the influence of the
oil interests could be found every.
where, and that the Standard oil com.
pany and Its associates were attempt.
Ing To influence the senateS action on
the German treaty and the league of
nations.
Leasing of land under the bin i
placed under the secretary of the in
terror and in the ease of coal land,
the bill provides for royalty of moi
less than five cents or more than u
cents ton shall he paid. Alaska Goa
lands are excluded from the bill and ;
provision authorizing the sale of land.
ms proposed in the leasing bin las
session will be eliminated.
Royalties IN oil lands would be no
less than 12ie per cent or more thar
- per cent upon production. while fo
phosphate the royalty would he . pc
cent of the gross value of productions
and one-eishth of production fol
sodium.