Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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it m um by tust. BTAXDARJD OIL COMPANIES UK FDR HIGH PRICE OF GASOLINE. of F?deral Trade Commission for High Priced Pc afonopoly Owned by Is WUl Itemedy the of Cbtoft Sssssssm, Washington, April 24 ?Domlra Uea of the gasoline Industry by Stand? ard oil interests, the federal trade eommieston reported to the senate to? day, has been largely responsible tor >. high gasoline prices of the lest two *. The report declares interlocking I ??seil ownership prevents any, real f ISSHpnillim of the various Standard qsj empanlee and the commission de legislation to permit re? ef the oil trust ease to obtain of the supreme court's decree. Mo eesselosleo evldcece was found, st tm stated, that collusion exists Urn Standard companies In vlo of the decree, bnt the commis aassVe findings have been transmitted attorney general. are declared to have been arbitrarily, although natural , (eMSse eentribnted. Pronounced price I jgfss littles were found In different I; safte of the country. ; ,. ike principal findings of too com KBBss^emare: Ifaht most marketing territories el companies are dominant, the Standard companies have a distribution of territory gasoline, and that no petition In the chief _ products exists among the Sin see ill companies. That the absence of competition \* x test to a community of fctock owner That the facta disclose advances in priese of gasoline snd differences In corresponding to Standard rketlng territories, which could set be explained except under condt charged. the combination of pipe lines other branches of the industry tended to establish and perpetuate isoly. That there Is no conclusive evi? ct collusion among the Stand? ard companies in violation of the din? solation decree. The commission recommended these measures as necessary to rem? edy conditional: A law providing for the reopening of anti-trust eases on the application of the attorney general by a bill of re? view for the purpose of obtaining such mod teat lone of decrees an are re? quired by new conditions. km to abolish In certain common stock ownership in cor? porations formerly members of combi? nations dissolved under the Sherman law. Affective limitation of common ownership of stock In potential com? petitive corporations by wi hdrawing the power of voting and control. Legislation which while recogniz? ing the common ownership, would fix upon such common owners the re? sponsibility for the acts of each of the several subsidiary companies whleh prevent competition. Segregation of ownership of pipe Hase, from other branches of the pe? troleum industry. Congressional enactment to fix standards for gasoline. Federal collection and publication of accurate statistics and informativ concerning the Industry. Conditions In the gasoline Industry as uncovered by the Investigation arc declared to be: Gasoline marketin< Is divided Into eleven territorial di? visions, at tesst nine of which are said to be under standard OH domi? nation. Stockholders of the Standard com penlee to a great degree are the same Individuals or Intersts. with more than half of the stock of the various companies In their hands. Lead I.ig officers of tho Standard companies hold considerable stock in two or more companies. Standard Oil refineries produced more than sixty per cent, of the gaso? line output In 1915, sold about 66 per cent, of the total marketed and hold more than ssventy per cent, of Ka? oline stocks. "Correspondence of the different prices in 1916 with Standard market? Ing territories." says the report, "itself points to arbitrary price fixing. H t the arbitrary character of the Inequal? ities In prices Is conclusively demon strated by the facts that as between meet of the territories there were no such differences in demand and sup? ply ? ? and the margin between cost and price was widely different in the different territories." Wholesale gasoline prices rose be? tween 71 and II per cent, in 1916 Bays the report. Retail prices kept close behind them. The part Increased de ?snd asd scarcity si the product play DESPERATE JITTLE BABES. GERMAN'S DOING HARDEST FIGHTING SINGE WAR 8TARTKD. British Continue Advance in Spite of German Struggle to Hold Minden berg l/ine?They Hold All of Their Gains and Capture Many Prisoners ?French Also Active. New York, April 24.?In the feet of some of the most desperate fight? ing the Germans have shown during the war and which seems to grow in intensity as the British approach the Haddenberg line, te British continue their advance. Today's official state? ment said they gained ground last night on a wide front south of the Bapaume-Cambrai road and reach." the St. Qusntin canal at one point. Further north they captured the vil? lages of Beau camp and Vlllers Plough. The British maintained all of yester? day's gains and progressed Mar Monchy and Royeux. More than flftten hundred prisoners have ai l ready been counted as the result of yesterday's fighting. French artillery is active and som< patrol fighting la reported. Two Ger? man attacks were repulsed Germany announced that the only British gains yesterday were on the Cam bra 1-Arras road, where the rums of Guemappe fell into British hands. The British were repulsed near Arras with tremendous losses, the statement added. APPROVES SMITH PROPOSAL Wilson Favors Scheme to Bring Ni? trates to America During War W 1th Germany. Washington, April 23.?President Wilson today gave his approval of the plan of Senator E. D. Smith of South Carolina to use the shipping facili? ties of the government to secure ni? trates for the farmers at cost during the war with Germany. The South Carolina senator had an extended Interview with the president and called his attention to the fact that the resolution which he had in? troduced empowering the shipping beard to use government vessels to bring nitrates from Latin-American countries was on the calendar and could be called up at any time. They agreed that a section of the urgent de? ficiency bill setting aside a hundt d million dollars "for the national de? fense and security of the nation" gi.\o the president ample authority to brins nitrates to this country without sena? torial action, and the president en? sured Senator Smith that everything possible was being done to secure ni? trates for the farmers at cost and that should it be found that the pres? ident did not have this authority he wluld urge the passage of Senator Smith's resolution. VICTORY IN MESOPOTAMIA. British Capture Samara With Gi< at Store of Military Material. London. April 24.?It is officially n? nounccd that the Turks in Mesopot a? mia have been driven from their fortl? fled positions between Samara and (s> tabilat. The British, pursuing thmi occupied Samara station yesterday ar.d captured 16 locomotives and 225 rail? way trucks. Columbia, April 24.?Gov. Mann, ; yesterday appointed I. C. Hough of Camden sheriff of Kershaw, vice the late W. W. Huckabee. The late sher? iff had only recently entered upon a term of four years and it is to fill out the unexplrad portion of this term that Mr. Hough la appointed. Rome, April 24.?Corriere d' Italia, the clerical organ, says it is able 10 confirm reports printed in Span, i newspapers that the immediate fol? towing of the German emperor arc exerting their influence to get h?m lu 'indicate. Little attention is pakl lo the report In official quarters. ed in the increase Is shown in figu; giving the increase in demand 38 p< cent. In 1915 and the production sov?>, per cent, below the year before. Th< Standard hooks show large earnim. says the report, as also was evidem < <t by the enhanced stock market value of SUmdard securities. OIL TRI'ST IS GOOD. President of Standard Oil Company Says They obey the Law. New York. April 24.?President Bedford, of the Standard Oil Co., of New Jersey, today stated that his com pany knows of no artificial price onn ?I It ions In the gasoline fields, lb- as serted his company hnd "scrupulou* obeyed" the dissolution decree ot t United States supreme court. 1 uuld that the operations of his CO pany were dictated solely hy souit legitimate business considerations, aW had not Interferred with the gTOWtr. of new companies. He also declar rt that gasoline prices were based an supply and demand. WOULD SOLVE FOOD PROBLEM SECRETARY HOUSTON OUTLINES HIS IDEAS FOR MEETING SITUATION. Suggests That Department he Given Right to Fix Maximum Price for Foodstuffs and to Take Census to Find Out What Amount of Food? stuffs There is in the Nation?To Organize Boys to Raise Food Crops. Washington. April 23.?Congress took up the food problem today in public hearings by the senate agri? cultural committee at which Secre , tary Houston set forth the adminis? tration's food control programme. At the same time the federal trade commission, directed by President Wil? son to investigate with the agricul? tural department the causes of high food prices, asked all State govern? ments to send representatives to Washington, April 30 for a conference on State cooperation in the inquiry. Before appearing at the committee hearing Secretary Houston put bis plans before the heads of five of the country's big farmers* organisations and received assurances of support for any measures the government contem? plates for getting a firmer grip on food production and distribution. The farmers* representatives proposed ev? en to give their indorsement to leg I islation giving the government power ! to fix maximum and minimum prices in an emergency. As its part in the government's plans, the department of labor an? nounced that it had undertaken the mobilization of a million boys through? out the country as active farm work? ers for the summer. An organization will be formed to be known as the United States Boys* Working re? serve. Its operations will be directed from Washington by William Edwin Hall of New York, president Of the Boys' Club federation, called here hy Secretary Wilson for the task. Two announcements of the day bearing on the food situation were a definition of the duties to be perform? ed by Herbert C. Hoover as chairman of the food committee of the council of national defense and the statement that William J. Bryan would tour the West to help spread the agricultural department's appeal for increased food production. Mr. Hoover, it was stated, will advise, as to the best means of assisting the allies to meet their food needs, and will assist State agencies and communities in meeting their food problems. Appearing with Secretary Houston before the senate committee were the representatives of the farmers' organi? zations. Mr. Houston amplified the letter he sent to the senate last \veelc and answered questions about food supplies, high prices and proposals for minimum tmd maximum price fixing legislation. He said the department of agriculture lacked machinery to ob? tain an accurate estimate of the fond supply of the country and needs legi** lation to provide It. Aside from the wheat and pot < to crops there had been no indicated shortage of staple foodstuffs, the sec? retary said. The nation needs for Its normal domestic requirements about 640.000,000 bushels of wheat a year, he explained. including 30,000,000 bushels for seeding purposes. Tliat amount, he said, was about this yer. t-'s crop. Last year the nation had a "carry over" of about 170,000,f?00 bushels of wheat. From July 1 list year until March 1 last the amount exported was about 130,000,000 blieb els. With all these facts in mind the secretary said it was hard to deter mine the cause for $2.32 wheat. "Probably," he said, "there is partly an economic justification; partly there is apprehension that the low prices paid a fow years ago will be pcid again. As to what extent prices may he controlled. I have no facts to base an opinion. "Figures were given showing that the production of corn, barley, oats, rice, milk and butter, eggs and Other food products this year were grantor or at least equal to the average for the last five years and that production had Increased. "I think," Mr. Houston said, "the high prices are due to a combination of circumstances." "A combination of circumstances and people," suggested Senator Ket - yon. "May he," replied the secretary. Seeretary Houston said he believ d (he furmers quite safe In lncreasi. r production. "I suggest," thi secretary said, "that we should havo legislation to fix a minimum price. I don't believe congress should attempt to fix prices of things that would be subject io *hlft and the power should be con? ferred on the executive. Perhaps In certain extreme emergencies* the > ihould he the power to fix maximum prices. Thero might ho cases of spec? ulation that could he controlled th$t way. 7 suggest that you confer t! (I ?ower on the council of national dr fense to act at the direction of trje purcsldcnt in fixing maximum and Veterans Offer Patriotic Services in Cause of Their Country. Convention Hall is Scene of Cheering as "Star Spangled Banner" is Play? ed? Stirring Address Made by Gov Ma iming and Others. Chester, April 24.?For the third time in the past fifth of a century Chester was host to the annual ro? union of the South Carolina division. United Confederate Veterans, which convened her today in a two day se slon. The weather today was ideal from every standpoint, the warm air being slightly tempered by a gentle spring breeze. The attendance is a representative one from all over South Carolina. Chester more than any city in the commonwealth is able to notice the rapidly thinning of the ranks of the old soldiera. While the majority of the heroes of the '00s &re apparently weak in body the fire of enthusiasm for their cause is still burning as brilliantly and strongly as ever. A delightful feature of this re? union is the spirit of Americanism which is more conscplcuous than ever before, the veterans appearing willing to do their share in endeavoring to down Prussianism, and standing as one man behind President Wilson. Gen. C. Irvine Walker of Summer ville, honorary commander in Chief, United Confederate Veterans, brought forth much applause when he read the following resolution: "Resolved, That the South Carolina division, United Confederate Veterans, cordially indorse the action of Gen. B. H. Teague, major general com? manding South Carolina division. United Confederate Veterans, their commander, In offering the patriotic services of the veterans to the coun? try In this hour of peril." The resolution was unanimously adopted. Following the vote the band struck up "The Star Spangled Ban? ner,'* and the great audience made the large auditorium of the city hall fairly shake with ringing applause and cheers. The morning programme opened at 9:30 o'clock with Southern airs ren? dered by one of this State's best known bands. The concert continued while the audience was assembling. The exercises proper started at 10 o'clock. At 9.30 this morning the comman? ders of brlgacs and camps reported at headquarters for orders. The reunion was called to order by Capt. W. H. Edwards, commander of the Walker-Gaston camp, United Confederate Veterans. Doxology was sung with a vim by the large number of voices present. The invocation was delivered by Lieut. Col. F O. S. Curtis of Header sonville. Mayor Z. V. Davidson welcomed the veterans and delegates to the city, going "the latchstrlng on the outshi-" phrase one better by saying that Chester's doors were off their hing is and the doorway wide open to the old soldiers. Gov. Manning, owing to official business, was unable to be present it the morning session to welcome the veterans in behalf of the common? wealth of South Carolina. He arriv? ed this afternoon, however. Capt. W. H. Edwards welcomed the veterans in behalf of the veterans of this city and Chester county. He s. d that the reunions were not held from year to year to keep alive the spirit of sectionalism, as some people seem to think, but to keep fertile the memory of the brave deeds of the hoys of the '60s. Col. Arthur L. Gaston welcomed the veterans in behalf of the Sons of Vet? erans In Chester and Chester county. His speech was an eloquent and pa? triotic one. At this juncture of the programme Capt. Edwards delivered the gavel to MaJ. Gen. B. H. Teague of Aikefl. commanding the South Carolina rii vision, United Confederate Veterans. He engaged in a heart to heart talk with the "boys," and was frequently applauded. Col. J. H. Wnarton of Laurens re? sponded to the address of welcome nn behalf of the South Carolina division. He said that as long as there were two veterans alive there would he a minimum prices." Mr. Houston said he did not be? lieve the power to fix prices would have to be exercised and he did not think the government should go into the wholesale business. The secretary said he had no ac? curate estimate of the grain going into alcohol except that its value last year was $141,000,000. The department of labor's boy mobilisation plan contemplates the establishment of enrolling stations In every city In the country. Boys from l.r> to 19 years of age would be oi - gunized In squads under proper su*| - ervlslon and with adequate equipment would camp on farms wherever the? services were needed during the sea? son. WAR FRONT BULLETINS. BRITISH MAKE ADDITIONAL GAINS AND CAPTURE PRIS? ONERS. French Engaged in Artillery Battle, bat Gain Ground, Repulsing Ger? man Counter Attacksr?German Movemen* Against Petrograd? Spain Almost Ready for War. New York, April 25.?The British announced that additional ground was won and gains secured in their offen? sive between Cojeul and Scarpe riv? ers. South of Ari as the British Va? cating slowly into the German lines between Cambrai and St. Quentin. The British front was advanced two thirds of a mile last night by the cap? ture of the hamlet Bilhem south of the Bapaume-Cambrai road. The prison? ers the British have taken since Mon? day total throe thousand. With the French along the Aisnc and in Champapne the battle is most? ly confined to artillery. The French, however, are continuing their progress in local righting. Several German at? tacks were repulsed. Humors are growing of a great Ger? man attempt by land and sea against Petrograd. Spain ha3 addressed a note to Ger? many which may result in the aban? donment of Germany's uncompromis? ing attitude of ruthless warfare, or its acceptance of a new foe. A Berlin dispatch says the note contains suggestions that the crisis may be averted through negotiation. Germany announced that fighting has continued since yesterday morning for the possession of the village of Gavrelle. It announced that the Ger? mans took six hundred and fifty Brit? ish prisoners Monday and brought down twenty aeroplanes. It account? ed for nineteen more Tuesday. reunion, and denounced the thought advanced by a few people to discon? tinue to hold them. Haddon Johnson of Aiken deliver? ed a scholarly effort when he re? sponded to the address of welcome In behalf of the South Carolina division. United Sons of Confederate Veterans. The presentation of Gen. C. Irvine Walker, of Summerville, honorary commander in chief of the United Confederate Veterans, brought for*h much applause. He made a happy speech that was enthusiastically re? ceived. The orator of the morning was Col. J. Rice Smith of Augusta, Ga., one of the notable heroes of the South in the War Between the Sections. Col. Smith is always a great favorite with the veterans, and he was given a warm welcome today. The oration was an able and interesting one, over? flowing with jokes about the war that made the audience shake with laugh? ter. Col. Arthur L. Gaston introduced to the veterans the wife of the late Capt. Lucius Gaston of Chester, who was killed in tho battle of Seven Pines. Following a number of announce? ments the first session of the reunion adjourned for dinner. The veterans were taken to the homes of the peo? ple of Chester for dinner. At 3 o'clock the second session of the reunion convened with Gen. Teague presiding. A number of time? ly subjects were discussed. The pro? posed movement that the reunion in Washington be called off until fall on account of inability of the veterans to train access to many of the national capital's historic and famous build? ings was killed insofar as the South Carolina division is concerned, whiob unanimously went on record as strong? ly opposing the movement to change the date. It was shown that Presi? dent Wilson was heartily in favor of holding the reunion in June, thinking ' hat it would be a capital idea at this time for the expression of fidelity t the nation by the veterans of the Soutb in this concrete manner. Gen. Teague expressed the opinion that the veterans would probably have access to more places of interest in June than they would in October, as internation? al affairs might take even a more acute turn precipitating a more rigid patrol about the Washington building than exists today. From 4 to 5:30 o'clock this after noon a brilliant reception WM bei 1 at the Commercial club by the Ches? ter chapter, United Daughters of th! Confederacy, for the veterans, son of veterans, sponsors, maids and ma? trons of honor, official ladies and oth? er visiting ladies, Gov. Manning s stafi etc. The rooms were attractively decorated with Stars and Bars and Stars and Stripes, along with gorgeous floral decorations. Refreshments were served, Tbc third session of the reunion con? vened tonight at the city hall with GOV, Richard I. Manning as honor iruest. CJen. B. II. Teague preside \ A splendid evening's entertainment was rendered by tho people of Ches? ter, which was greatly enjoyed by the veterans. The division sponsors, maids, ma GEORGIA TO FEED HERSELF. PROMISES TO RAISE FOOD FOR HER CITIZENS THIS YEAR. Farmers am*. Rankers Gather at Ma eon to Outline Plans for Emer? gency. Macon, Ga., April 24.?Georgia will feed herself for the next 12 months. This was pledged in resolutions adopted at a State-wide meeting of farmers and bankers held here today, which was attended by nearly 1,500 men. A campaign for more food for man and beast will be carried Into every county and every hamlet in the State of Georgia. The work of today's meeting can be summed as follows: The State agricultural council on food production and conservation was made the official organization of Georgia in accordance with the re? quest of the United States govern 1 91I ment. Gov. Harris was authorided to ap? point a commission of five men to proceed to Washington to unravel the fertilizer problem, taking it up with" the federal government. Resolutions were adopted urging I the land owners to rent their lands to tenants for a part of the orop raised thereon, and not for all the cotton, as is the general plan. Suggestions were made by Dr. A. M. Soule, president of the State agri? cultural college, on the conservation of food. Dr. Soule urged the plant? ing of staple, fruit and garden crops, and urged the farmer to let "the new and untried things alone.'* The conference unanimously dis? approved the idea of fixing a max? imum price which should be paid for cotton, urging that the law of supply and demand regulate the price of cot? ton. A change in the basis of credit given by bankers was urged with the suggestion that money be lent on all crops and loans be conditionally car? ried over. The canning of all vegetables and fruits was urged by Miss Lois Dowdle, bead of the canning club department of the State College of Agriculture. "Can it" is the suggested slogan. Charles B. Lewis, president of the Georgia Bankers' association, outlined tl e new policy of the hanks in re? gard to live stock. Ho said the bankers will finance the stocking of farms with cattle and hogs. His I beck, he said, will finance the can nine club work in Bibb county. Following the official meeting call? ed at the request cf Gov. Han is there was a mass meet.ng of farm^ ers at which resolutions were adopt? ed urging the United States govern? ment to close all the breweries snd distilleries in the country for the pur? pose of "conserving the grain con? sumed annually for the manufacture of l eer and whiskey." TAUGHT BY EXPERIENCE. England Having Suffered Much From Volunteer System is Now For Uni? versal Service. Washington, April 24.?Lieut. Gen. Fridges, a member of the British com? mission, told the newspaper men that the British democracy has become "almost fanatical" over universal mili? tary service. He said the volunteer system under which the empire enter? ed the war cost lives of the country's most valuable citizens, crippled the in? dustrial mobilisation and immeasur? ably retarded England's efforts in the war. He said the war is no longer a war of expeditions, but a case of na-, tion against nation. UNREST IN SPAIN. Former Premier Says He Resign^! Because Hie I Vit Spain should JoKfc Allies. Paris, April 2.".?C??unt KomanonfsJ is quoted in an interview with the PaP tit Parisien correspondent as saying that he resigned the i -erniership be? cause of his conviction that Spain Should join allies. He said Germany has paralyzed Spanish business and la in the meantime carrying on a propa? ganda through Spanish newspapers to frighten people by emphasizing the horrors of war. The interview also re? fers to tbe action of South American nations in breaking with Germany. trons of honor and camp sponsors were present. Coy. Manning was given an entho sinstio w elcome. He eloquently praised the valorous deeds of the veterans. ?jj The governor came out vigorously el for President Wilson's selective draft proposition. He said it was the only fair and just way. It puts the poor man and rich man upon the same level. He said the men who should be drafted into service are cigarette smokers, loafers around billiard rooms and cold drink stands, fellows who are spending their time in Joy rid? ing, idling and living beyond th*>i. means. He said he had written South Carolina's congressmen and senators to heartily support the president's se? lective draft.