Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, October 19, 1918, Page 4

= FULL PROTECTION FOR GOVER Corigréssman Monidell Pleads Case of Oil Operators in Comment on Power Bill, as Shortcut to Re- sults Anticipated in Great Expenditure Advocating the leasing bill as an important measure which should be given recognition with legislation for the better utili- zation of existing sources of electrical and mechanical power, Congressman Frank W. Mondell, in a speech on the floor of the house, called attention to the curtailment of oil development NT UN PERMIT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SALT CHEEK, ASSERTS SOLON about it. The nation is losing the | GRASS CAMOUFLAGE ise By AMERICAN SNIPERS [By Associated Press.) BEHIND THE AMERICAN LINES bengfit of these wells and in some /IN FRANCE, Oct, 19.—The Ameri- cases, quite likely, water is running jn én the sands, des' ing oil values forever. At a time when the nation | Stands in urgent need of oil to help carry on the war these influences are } standing in the way and shortening} and preventing perfectly legitimate production, needful arid necessary to the Sp a diate es of the war.’ can sniper wears a fantastic suit of | green burlap with tufts of rafia, or Madagescar grass, sewed thickly all over the coats and trousers. The coat hasa headpiece wit heye-holes so that {Oe sniper’s head is completely en- vel loped. | American troops in Vosges have «|used these camouflage suits with great effect. The grass-covered bur- lap is merged into the grass thru as inconsistent with the demands of the times and stated that while he would support ghe power bill on the advice of those charged with present responsibility, he believed the government would find a shorter course that would prove far more satisfactory. The power bill, Mr. Mondell stated, does not commend it- self to his judgment, yet in response to requésts of the administration, he felt in duty bound to support it. “While we are on the subject,” de- clared the Wydming congressman. “we ape reminded that one of the most important products in the Unit- ed States for the production of power is oil.” I think it may be truth- fully said that there is no one prod uct, except the greater product of iron and steel, that is more essentiul to the winning of the war than min- eral oil and its by-products—gasoline, naptha, lubricating oil. It is neces- sary to have gasoline to run the air- planes, upon which we must largely depend for our victory over yonder. We must have gasoline or oil to run the tanks, which are now so impor- tant a factor in all advances along the western front, and which tend so greatly to reduce the casualties of, the attacking forces. We must have oil or gasoline to run the transports, the ambulances, the motor cars, and trucks té provide food and ammuni- tion for and bear the wounded from the battle line. Gasoline is needed at home for multiplied purposes. “Recently there has been a very alarming and unfortunate reduction in oil and gasoline production, com- pared to the demand. The senate of the United States, on the 8th day of September, passed a resolution call- ing upon the director of the fuel ad- ministration for a report on the pro- duction and consumption. “That report was made on Septem- ber 11 and was published as a’ senate document, No. 277. I hold it in my hand. From that report it appears that there has been a steady reduc- tion in the stocks of gasoline and naptha for months past, that the re- duction of the stocks of gasoline and naptha during the month of July was approximately 1,367,000 barrels, or 44,000 barrels a day, and for August 2,000,000 barrels. It appears fur- ther that we will soon reach a point where we are likely to have not more than a month’s supply of gasoline and naptha on hand. In this alarm- ing condition of affairs one would think that those interested in and officially responsible for the winning of the war, in maintaining conditions under which we may win the war, would use every effort to eee the production of gasoline. About four years ago—or, to be} entirely accurate, on August 2 1914—congress passed an act provid- ing. that where applications for pat- ents have been or may hereafter be offered for certain classes of oil or gas lands included in an order of withdrawal the secretary of the in-| terior may make temporary arrange- ments whereby, by impounding a por-, tion of the product, the operations} may be continued. | “Some time after the passage of the act I have referred to the secre- tary of the interior entered into agreements with certain claimants) and operators in California and Wyoming under which they were al- lowed to operate and produce oil from the contested lands by impound- ing to the credit of the government a sum equal to one-eighth of the value of the ofl obtained, this being the usual commercial royalty. Those agreements and arrangements. were entered into from time to time with claimants in California and in what is known as the Salt Créek-field in Wyoming. With a few exceptions, where there were controversies) among private claimants, they were! all identical as to the amount that was to be impounded. The theory was that if patents were denied and the lands reverted to the government, the government would have in its possession what amounted to a fair royalty on the oil extracted. “Quite recently, a month or more ago, the secretary of the interior in- formed the holders of these agree- ments that after a certain date the existing agreements would be can- celed, and agreements made under which all proceeds would be im- pounded egcept a sum sifficent to pay the expenses of operating the wells. That was a month or more ago. I understand all but four of the operators in the Salt Creek field have notified the secretary of the in- terior that they can not enter into, that kind of an arrangement and operate the wells, that it would mean} bankruptey to them. ‘The four who}! are able to operate ure, I understand, people who are interested in the re- fining end of the oil business and able to sectire a profit from the re- fining of the oil, or who are so sit- aated financially that they can enter nto these agreements and contjnue # do business on other sources of in- some, “It must be apparent to all that | hat sort of an arrangement favors the great’ refining interests. I am not disposed to question anyone’s motives, but the effect of the action taken is to favor the refining inter- asts, so far as they may be interested n these holdings, and ‘to prevent the ordinary producer of oil from op- erating. “The average daily production of the wells in the Salt Creek field which were operating under these agreements was something over 5,000 barrels of oil a day. will produce nearly 50 per cent of zasoline. So that the cancellation of chese agreements has increased by| 20 per cent the daily deficit in gaso- line. “More than that, the men with whom these arrangements were made had proposed to the interior depart- ment some months ago to drill 40 wells and have them drilled before cold weather set in. They were will- ing to agree to pay an increased roy- alty on that additional production. The production of. these 40 wells! would have gone far toward wiping out the daily deficit in gasoline. These gentlemen were willing to im- pound a larger royalty on the new production, but they could not afford | to turn over to the government all of | their production on wells that cost}! from $20,000 to $40,000 equip, and connect. There is no cap- ital to be had for that kind of a ven- ture. So the only reason why we are not getting from five to ten thou- sand barrels more oil per day from the Salt Creek fields in Wyoming is| vecause the operators are told that they can not operate unless they | stand all the expense, take all the chances, and product of their wells. In this bill we are considering authority is given! to spend $175,000,000 of the public money to develop power, but out yonder men are not allowed to pro- duce a power product at their own expense. “At a time when our people are responding to the request to lay up all automobiles every Sabbath day, when we are compelled to shorten the use pf gasoline everywhere, thru the action of a department of the | government, thousands of barrels a day are kept from the market. “T shall not refer to the wholly un- pardonable and unwarranted assault made on the secretary of the in- terior by a subordinate employe ef the attorney general's office in the hearings before the public lands com mittee some months ago, further than to say that if he reflected the attitude of the attorney genera! Tn the matter, then it is very clear who is responsible for this condition of affairs. I have no disposition to blame or criticize the secretary of the interior in the ‘matter, tho the action complained of is taken ty his department, “It looks as tho it was not the official charged with the adminis- tration of these affairs, but an offi- cial of the government who has noth- ing to do with the issuance of patents | or the execution of the act of August 25, 1914, who has determined the policy in these matters. Let us take the attorney general's view of it and assume for the sake of argument that as a result of action by the interior department or suits brot by the! gov- ernment thesé claims were eventually denied and the title to these lands were to remain in the federal govern- ment. Has anyone any notion that the federal government would by re-| version secure the~benefit of the en- tire product of these wells. Why, the bills that have been passed by both the house and the senate are now in conference provide for leases under which the federal government would secure as a royalty approxi- mately the sums that were imponded under these agreements, No matter what happens, therefore, the govern-| ment is abund@nuy protected by the} agreements which, in my opinion, the | secretary of\the interior would haye This oil; to sink, | impound the entire) continued in force if he hud: his! way} ELEGTAIGAL EQUIPMENT OF REFINERY INSTALLED The electrical equipment of the | tual Refining Co., plant at Glenrock| is being installed and soon the work of construction which has beén under way for Several months will be fin-| ished. | The plant has been building since} last spring and the electrical install-| ation marks the last of the work be- fore the plant starts operating on oi!: ‘ich the sniper crawls and even when only 25 feet distant his pres- ence cannot be detected. at These suits are made by French women in the American cemonelare, station behind the lines. Raee 28) on Eee: at TRY WORLD’ 1S AM OF COLUMBUS CONFERENCE Where the plant will get its oil still and prohibition workers will assemble remains a Yuestion altho the men be- in this city one month from today. to| hind the plant probably made the’! disctiss ways of aiding in winning the | plans to supply the stills when the7 | wap and some kind of cohesion among started work. |‘the anti-alcohol forces of the world > © aa ‘looking toward world-wide destruc- FTS SHOWING Of |tion of the liquor traffic. This co- hesion will probably take the form of ~ an international conference of anti- THE forces, to be held at the time ‘when the peace conference is being | ; conducted. } | A call for. the confernce to be held | In the Alkali Butte field, the Cheno/in this city has been issued by the Oil company is drilling about 350) Anti-Saloon League of America. | feet and has set“the first string of|Kyery temperance organization and casing. The tool$ have showings of} government of the countries allied oil on them whenever they come from) with the United States, as well as the | the hole and the bailer brings up 4) neutrals, has been haved to send large quantity of oil every time it is delegates: run. se who are organizing the con-/ The pay is expected at 2000 feet or) ference declare that the deal bene-| therabouts and this depth is expected fits experienced by the nations where | to be reached about the middle or lat- thr has been any considrable suppres-| | ter part of next PRON ER: ia sion of alcoholic beverages have been so uniform as to leave only one cotirse SIN GASES Of Te | open to insure the greatest industrial} * | efficiency, highest moral conditins, land strongest military forces, namely, | DEVELOP OVER NIGHT somets prohibition of liquér-manu-) ; facture and consumption. Six new cases of the Flu were re- | ported into the police station this| morning by the doctors-of the city) and the number of cases in the city! is estimated at 200 by the police. f Seven plain drunks lined up before Hizzonor and received the usual fines \The past night was a quiet one in all | quarters of the city. | MAKING GOOD AT SIXTY-FIVE. Don’t worry about old age. Al sound man is good at any age. Keep! your body in good condition and you| can be as hale and hearty and able (| to “do your bit” as when you were| |a young fellow. Affections of the kidneys and praa’l der are among the leading causes of early or helpless age. Keep them! clean and the other organs in work-! ing condition and you will have noth- ing to fear, Drive the Grand Union Tea Co. We are again represented in Casper by Frank G. Pierce and when in need of good Tea, Cof- fee, Spices, Toilet Articles, etc., ie 312-J. STORAGE Household Goods, Storage House ig rece | CHAMBERE: 1 _ AND UNDERTAKING Con | GEOLOGICAL WORK Maps and Blue Prints, Surveying the system and avoid uric acid dc- | W¥°ming Map and Blue Print Co., cumulations, Take GOLD MEDAL Crude Oil Testing a Specialty Haarlem Oil Capsules periodically |] P. O. Béx 325. Rm. 10, over aS and you will find that you are as 1@, good as the next fellow. Your spir-| its wil be rejuvenated, your muscles | strong and your mind keen enough} for any task. “ GOLD MEDAL Haarlem Oil Cap- sules will do the work. But be gure, to get the original imported GOLD MEDAL Haarlem Oil Capsules. They are reliable and guaranteed to help you or your money will be refunded. | for 8 by most druggists. In) sealed pac! ackages three e sizes. Ady, THINK A 1 MINUTE Allmetal Weatherstripping is the most up-to-date ne- cessity for your house Keeps out cold, wind, dust and Spanish Flu, stops’ your doors and windows from rattling, and Mrs. Housekeeper will find the benefit of a dustless house. No more dread of awful dust storms. It saves 20 to 40 per cent in your fuel bill, and fewer doctor bills, Get your order in now so as to-get it in before the more severe weather hits us. Telephone 2715 or drop a postal to 1043 East Third Street poisonous wastes from THE HENNING DINING ROOM ‘BETTER sevice OPEN FOR: ae: one roo At Popular Plies’ Five-Course Turkey Die every Sunday a 12: 00 toy p. m. GIVE US A TRIAL! body to be’prepared. that will appeal to any man. per, anid our prices are right. Call on us and be convinced. SHIRTS _ Should you need some nice Flaiinel Shirts for Fall and Winter-wear we have them with plain or military collars in the different shades of grey, brown and khaki colors, priced from $3.50 to $6.50 each. Sweaters You will be surprised when you see our stock of Jerseys and Sweat- ér Coats, as we have about every| aid we have it f ai ie hale sive are selicy theae we have it for you and wil cheap, too, considering the high cost of labor and matenial. Give. Us.» Call When You. Want a Sweater i TE aniNG _ It won't be long now until we will feel the chilly blasts of winter, so it behooves every- See us when you need a new SUIT or an OVERCOAT as we are selling them at prices ‘UNDERWEAR It is cold énough now to. begin wearing heavier Underwear and you will find that we have the largest and best assdrtrient in Cas- I i Hats and Caps You will surely need a new Hat or a Cap for Fall and Winter wear, guarantee to please you in both Try. the Tribune Want Ad. Columns. Over 10, 000 read en oi PERL, oe £01280 Woh Contr 6 % Do odio ete oatoatee-cteete S Good as New, only runabout2500 miles. One of the best cars on the market A new car just like it now costs $2750.00 Will “sell at a BARGAIN