-THE DUTY ON OIL.
Then, comfortably sheltered behind this Customs barrier, the cartel organised distribution within the borders of France, constructing reservoirs, dep6ts, tank wagons and boats, in such a way that nobody, not even a producing company, could dispense with its services. Finally, having ascertained that the rich oil measures in Pennsylvania were exhausted, but sure, henceforward, of freedom from competition, the cartel gradually reduced its industrial operations—already simple enough ! Between 190o and 1903 the importation of crude oil decreased from 93•4 per cent. of the total imports to 28.17 per cent. ; while that of refined oil increased from 6.6 per cent. to 71.83 per cent. The few refineries that have been retained serve chiefly as a pretext for the maintenance of the old Customs tariff, for, thanks to them, the classic argument of the necessity for protecting French industry can still be brought out in Parliament.
As a matter of fact, so-called " refiners " no longer refine anything whatever. They are simply merchants who deliver a product for consumption in France in exactly the same state in which they receive it from abroad.
5o OIL Having done away with all risk, they have next done away with all effort. But they have, none the less, preserved their monopoly and their protective tariff.
The control exercised by the State during the War made it possible to estimate that their extra-industrial profit was not less than 5o million francs 1 a year. That is, the
French democracy makes a free gift of 5 million francs a year, on an average, to each of the ten privileged companies which have arrogated to themselves the lucrative honour of providing it with British or American oil.
Louis XV. himself was not more magnificent I Invested legally with a semi-official monopoly, the ten farmers-general of oil buy from abroad a product already prepared, sell it, without alteration or risk, at a higher price than in any other country in Europe, and exact a veritable tax from domestic consumers, motorists, and owners of taxi-cabs and lorries. The whole French nation pays tribute to them, without receiving any special service in justification, and without any portion of the toll return ing to the national revenue. It is a private tax, a feudal due ; and this exorbitant privilege has been granted in the name of the people by the elected representatives of a nation which has proclaimed the equal rights of citizens.
This case is not unique ; in the bosom of our society a whole oligarchy of trusts has arisen in railways, oil, steel, sugar, armaments, banking, whose strength rests solely on authority given in the name of the public.
The republican democracy has retained, without knowing it, the customs of the old regime ; it has, it would seem, established equality in the political sphere, only to maintain privilege the more firmly in the domain of economics.