Show GASOLINE PRICE CUT GUT DEMANDED FOR MONTANA Go Governor Warns Governor Warns State Will Willi rEnter Business Unless I Revision Made a By ny United Press Prud HELENA Mont Sept 21 Replies 21 Replies from 16 companies distributing gasoline gasoline gasoline gaso gaso- line in Montana Montana were awaited by Governor Frank H. H Cooney today following following fol fol- fol lowing a sharp demand the concerns very materia materially ly reduce gasoline prices in this state In a letter addressed to headquarters of the various companies the governor warned he would place Montana in t tile the c refinery and gasoline business unless a n dov downward revision of prices is effected Backing his threat was authority delegated by an act of the thc last hut legis legis- lature The act empowered the governor gov attorney general and secretary of state to take such action POWER DELEGATED Th These se officers or a n majority of them acting as the state board of examiners ex cx- were authorized to place the state in the gasoline business when prices rices exacted by other d dealers lers are found unreasonable and excessive An initial appropriation of was set aside in the act Governor Cooney made public his letter last night The governor declared de de- de dared an investigation had him ilm the people are arc being mated against Every company should receive a fair air percentage of profit on operations opera opera- ions he declared but unless gasoline gaso- gaso line ine companies in the very near fu fu- tune ture ure reduce their prices prices' very materially mate dally I shall be compelled to take action to protect the people of our state tate PRICES QUOTED Major points in his letter leUer were that the he refinery price of fuel distributed in n Montana as estimated by him was 17 11 7 2 1 cents a gallon compared to 5 2 1 cents in Oklahoma and that Montana consumers pay a freight charge based on from Tulsa Okla Okia He declared that In most cases the he freight charge is but 2 2 1 cents a gallon since most of the gasoline Imported to Montana comes from Wyoming The governor also cited the fact that hat last year Montana produced 31 34 gallons of gasoline ne within her own borders Major companies to whom the governor governor governor gov gov- sent his letter included Standard Stand Stand- ard and Oil of Indiana the Contin Continental nt l lon Oil on company Richfield Oil company Shell Oil company compan White Eagle Oil corporation H H. H. H Cr Cross s company and the he International Refining and Texas company Ten Montana corporations also were recipients of the letter |