Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-08-05
TRANSFORMATION and Discrimination.

that the general assembly shall pass
laws to prevent unjust discrimination
in rates the different railroads in the
state, and also laws establishing rea-
sonable maximum rates.
The general assembly did pass law
against discrimination in charges, or
facilities in transportation of freight or
passengers, and it did provide in the
classification of freights and maxium
rate for the different classes, and au-
thorizing the railroad commissioners to
reduce the maxium and to establish
rates in regard to certain freights not
provided for in the classification. But
these laws have remained compare
lively dead letters upon the statute
book. The recent very at1e report of
our railroad commissioners gives some
examples of the manner in which their
authority has been disregarded. Conn
plaint was made by shipper from
High Hill that the Wabash company
refused to receive sacked grain for track
delivery in ST. Louis also, that their
rates on oats in carloads are IL cents
per 100 pounds to ST. Charles and 20
cents to st. Louis. The commissioners
answered, telling him to write to Mr..
Knight, and telling him that the rate
on oats was St cents to st. Charles and
8 cents to st. Louis. Six months after
ward they received another letter from
the shipper, enclosing three bills, show
ing that the 10-cent charge on oats to
st. Louis is still maintained. Again,
they received a letter from stock
dealer at Bismarck, making inquiries
concerning rates on live stock, and
complaining that he was charged $40
per :ar from Poplar Bluff to Bismarck
fifty-tWO miles, over the Iron Noun
tain railroad. The commissioners in
formed him that $40 is the maxium
fixed in the statute of 1875, which max
jmum was reduced in 1878 to.$lG tY the
railroad commissions, "a provided in
section II of the act Of 1915, and advised
him TO refer the matter TO Mr.. Emmer-
son, first assistant freight agent OF the
company. He did so, and Mr., Emmer-
son replied that $40 was the legal rate,
ignoring entirely the reduction made
by the commissioners.
Complaint was received also fromPied-
mont, that on the St.Louis, Iron Noun
tain and Southern railroad company
was disregarding the order made by
the commissioners of December 2, 1884
In regard to coal oil, and was still
charging first-class rates Qa that arti-
Gle, viz: SO cents per 100 pounds from
St. Louis=-S2 70 per barrel and 81 cents
per gallon on oil costing only 81 cents
per gallon at st. Louis. Commissioners
Harding called to see the railroad Off
GERS at st. Louis. He could not find
Mr.. Hayes, hut saw Mr.. Ports, and
was informed by him that the Missouri
Pacific Railway company denied the
authority Of tue commissioners to con-
troll rates.
Another case was that Of Mr.. Macy,
the owner of some coal mines near
Lexington, Mo-, where the Missouri
Pacific railway company Disseminated
against him, not only in cost of trans
portation, but in refusing him facilities
for the transportation of his coal, be-
cause they had not cars enough, whilst
at the same time they were furnishing
cars for transportation of their own
mines. In this case Mr.. Macy stated
that he could prove by six uniHpeach-
able witnesses that in 1881 he was
threatened by the railroad company's
manager that if he did not sell or lease
his mines to them they would freeze
him out by preventing his mines mex
ing expenses. 1t may be worr...n men
tioning that the maior:::.y of the stock
of the Lexing..on Coal Mining company
has. slice its organization in 1882, been
held either by the officers of the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway company or by
the company itself.
Now, these are illustrations from Off
cial sources of the manner in which
the Gould system is riding rough.shod
over the people of this state. Will the
elect legislature at the coming elec-
ton which will have the wisd )m and
courage to curb the power of this giant
monopoly?
The railroad commissioners are pow
erless to resist these aggressions against
the rights of the people. he railroad
company, in the exercise of the powers
claimed by them, may destroy the
business of any man in the community
and yet the people of the sta,e furnish
ed the larger portion of the money to
build the roads aud are now taxed to
pay interest on the debt. 1t is folly to
say that the oppressed individual may
bring his suit. He is one man against
this powerful corporation, with its
branches ramifving through every part
of the state. Why not have the state
act i'm defence of Its outraged citizens?
Why not give full authority to the
railroad commissioners, backed by the
power of the state. to prosecute in all
these cases of violation of the law?
Let the commissioners have authori-
ty, whenever complaint is made, to ex-
anime witnesses under oath, to exam
inc the books of the company, to make
a process verbal, as the French call it,
and waen the commissioners are salts
fled that there has been a violation of
the law, to institute q prosecution and
l.
cost, or else have the state pay it /; in
other words, make it a state matter.
They ought to have the power to
make the most critical examination of
the railroad officers and the books and
papers of the company at any moment,
particularly on the subject Of rebates
and Determinations.
To what extent rebates are allowed
to invidual shippers it is in most cases
very difficult to ascertain. The inves-
tigation of the New York Hepburn
committee disclosed the fact that spec
ial rates were the rule. The contract
with Schoelkoph s. Matthews, mi!iers
of Buffalo, and n. Y. which. enabled
them to continue the business when
other milleIs were obliged to suspend
operations, shows that there was con-
tract to this effect: provided, how
ever, and this agreement III made upon
the express understanding and consid-
Grafton that said second party(S. & ".
shall regard and treat this agreement
as confidential, and will use all reason
able precaution to keep the same se-
cret." How many such ageements are
made by the Gould combination of
railroads in this state, controlled by a
New York syndicate, cannot be ascer-
tanned without thorough investiga-
ton, and this ought to do be done by