Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1907 — IS TOTALLY DEPRAVED [ARTICLE]

IS TOTALLY DEPRAVED

1907 FEBRUARY 1907 Su.|Mo.|Tu. We.|Tti.|Fr. Sa. 2Z Li 3 4_S_JLJ._B.jL 10_11_12J3.14 15 16 17 IBJ9 20 .21 2223 24 25 26 27 28

About the Conclusion of the Interstate Board as to the Standard Oil Co. IT SEEMS TO STOP AT NOTHING When It Comes to the Matter of Smashing Competition. Competitive Methods of the Oil Monopoly Unfair and Even Disreputable, Declares the Report. Washington, .Tan. 29. Severe arraignment of the Standard Oil company and a proposal that the government tlx the rates and regulate the transportation of oil are the features of a report to congress by the Interstate commerce commission. This re port summarizes the results of the investigation under the Tillman-Gillespie resolution, it Is asserted that “the ruin of its competitors has been a distinct part of the policy of the Standard , Oil company in the past, systematical- | )y and persistently pursued." Its Methods of Competition. The report severely arraigns the ' Standard's methods of competition. On tills poirtt it says in part: "The Stand- j ard has repeatedly continued, after liecoming tlie oyvner of a competing com- ; puny, to operate it under the old name, carrying the idea to tin* public that the company was still independent and | competing with the Standard. It has I used such purchased or independently I organized companies to Kill off com-’] petitors. The operation of such fake ; independent concerns has been one of Its most.effective means of destroying competition. , Other Sins of Commission. , “The Standard has sold different grades of oil at different prices from the same barrel. It has paid employes of independent oil companies for in- I formation as to the business of those competitors, and has paid employes of industrial companies to secure the • adoption of its oil in preference to that \ of its competitors. It has followed every barrel of independent oil to destination. Its agents are instructed to win customers at any sacrifice.. It has tampered with the oil inspectors ; in different states. Strikes at the Pipe, Dines. “The commission's only knowledge of the competitive methods of the Standard Oil company is obtained from evidence taken under oatli in this Investigation. Tills evidence, if true, demonstrates that the competitive methods of the company in the past have been unfair and even disreputable. Ils motto has been the destruction of competition at any cost.” As to remedies the report says that the chief advantage the Standard has over its competitors is that of transportation. therefore, this advantage must be destroyed, ami the chief of these advantages is the pipe lines, which are declared not natural but artificial advantages.