, 1921-10-14
THE OH. QUESTION.

Mr.. George L. Brimmer of Rawiins, Wyoming, n
attorney for one or two independent oil producing
companies, has been supplying considerable newspa
per copy in the past ten days on the subject Of price
of crude oil and the refined products, and charging
the Standard Oil company with arbitrarily fixing tn
price of crude at a low rate while giving tho publ
no corresponding benefit in the refined products
Further, that because of tho lowering of the price O.
the crude product the state Of Wyoming is the lose
in taxes by the alleged manipulation of prices ami
other property is thereby made to bear an unwar
rnnted burden in support Of the state Additional IN
dictrnenfs made against the Standard company rs re
suits of its action arc reduced royalties to state ant
federal governments and reduction in amount that car
be obtained for federal reclamation projects.
Mr.. Brimmer suggests that the people of the state
demand that the governor cali a special session of the
legislature to remedy the so-called existing evils. He
states as his belief that the company he complains OF
has misused its franchise in that 1t has created n mon
opoly and points out state and federal statutes under
which proceedings of custer can be instituted.
In reply to Mr.. Brimmers suggestions Governor
Carey has expressed a willingness to do whatever he
Is able to do within his official power, but he DOUBTS
the constitutional authority Of the legislature to fix
prices and is reluctant to bring the Legislature in ses-
sion at great cost when such an act would result in
little better than failure
Governor Carey has taken n very sensible view of
the matter, although he complains of the low price Of
crude and the high prices of finished products.
Whatever may have been the actuating influence in
-ducing Mr.. Brimmer to raise SO violent a storm with
reference to a passing phase Of economic ~readjust-
ment, which viii sooner or later adjust itself, the
question Of prices and costs may az well be gone into
now as any other time.
Every person, even remotely concerned in oil knows
that there is only one solution to Wyomings oil prob
lem and that will include prices and all else complained
of by Mr.. Brimmer, the governor. the Independent
producers and everybody else, that Is an independent
refinery to take the production of the Independently
owned producing wells. Composition in bidding fol
the crude product will establish a price in this field
more nearly in conformity to its value, as 1t has done
in the mid-continent field where such competition
exists.
Transportation charges, marketing expenses AND
other similar items now looming large viii not appear
half as formidable when independent pipelines fror.
Salt Creek and an independent refinery are estab
lshed at Casper or elsewhere.
It is a matter not exactly calling for the soft pedal
but rather for a calm business view having in mind
the best interests of the state and its industrial en-
~terprises-
The calling Of the legislature, the passing Of fool
ish or regulatory laws even II authorized under the
constitution, would result in far more damage thar
benefit. It Is not a matter for legislative action
neither is It a matter for court proceedings, rs sug
gssted by Mr.. Brimmer. Wyoming desires Mt THU
time and at all times, her economical, industrial ant
all other questions in which the public is concerned
settled in frank and fair business fashion. Fair tc
all interests concerned. The independent producers
must have fair return for what they do to enrich the
UtAt&f u lLuEA y . luildI bdlSu II 6lLt
Of the concern makes not difference in ths syes of thu
state OF Of the people. Simply because they are either
big or Itttls IS no reason for 81 treatment Of the ont
or the other by the ons or the other and certainly moi
in any case by the state.
We have had quite enough Legislative interfsrenc,
In other localities 70 give Us an example Of how en-
~tsrprses may be crippled. in1peded and retarded b,
such action. We certainly want none Of II In wyo
ming.
We want 70 foster and encourage Industrial devel
cpfnent in the state. And we always want to remen,
her that without tbs power and financial ability of the
big corporations Wyoming would have remained 9
ran, pasture forever. Big corporations are not TO be
feared they are not to be referred to In whispers, They
are very human and very useful. we want them in the
state, And they are as responsive 10 fair treatment
as are individuals,
Making faces at the Standard OH company never
produced any nourishment to anybody, II never hurt
the Standard and It never helped ths people,
The necessity for a partnership and cordial under
standing was never more relevant to the interests OF
everybody than at present.
fheiteTaeRt to riot, aFoHsiBg of radical and boishey-
list sentiment against anybody or anything is q dan
ger of magnitude in the way back te settled and nor
mai conditions.
The world expects RssRis to take care of theis Owl
tssiness, The Standard feiiaEs this rule, fhs Jade