| OCR Text |
Show IS "INVESTIGATING" OVERDONE? Another investigation of gasoline prices is to take place. It has ben customary in Wasington to periodically demand an investigation of the oil industry. Past investigations have found that price of gasoline has followed pretty much the rise and fall in crude oil prices. One result of these investigations is to intimidate the oil prospector, pros-pector, thus causing reduced oil production which automatically causes a shortage of petroleum products with increased prices to consumers. What a wondeful thing it would be for the taxpayers if an hon-est-to-goodness business investigation, free from the hampering strings of politics could be carried on in every department of the government. It is probable that such an Investigation, if the investigators in-vestigators had the power to hire and fire as occasion demanded, would result in annual savings to the taxpayers far in excess of any savings that may eb hoped for as a result of investigating private business which is subject to private competition and which must sink or swin on efficiency in management. It is all together probable that the present investigation has been forced merely for political effect and not because anyone has the slightest idea that it will change conditions which by force of necessity and the law of supply and demand, govern the production and marketing of oil products. |
