New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-09
COMPLAINING OF ALTON.
CHARGES OF ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION
BROUGHT AGAINST IT.
THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION ASKED BY THE
ROCK ISLAND ROAD AND THE INTERSTATE
RAILWAY ASSOC ALTON TO MAKE
AN INVESTIGATION,

AN INVESTIGATION.
Washington. Aug. e.-Therc has been filed with the
Interstate Commerce Commission complaint OF the
Interstate Commerce Railway Association against the
Chicago and Alton Railroad. The petition OF the
complainant rectes that the defendant was men,
Der of the said association until July Is, l6sO that
the defendant is competitor for the trans portauon
of live stock and products thereof from Kansas lily
to Chicago with the following other lines members
Of sad association-the Chicago. Burlington ana
Quincy and affiliated lihes the Chicago, Rock lsshu
and Pacific, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and II. fau'
tho wabash Western, tho Chicago, Santa fc aud Call
fornis and the Missouri Pacific; that these com
panes together with the defendant, have united ia
the establishment of tariff for the transportation vi
said commodities from points beyond kansas 'ity 10
Chicago; that these lines also aided In the esao.
lishment of tariff on live stock, dressed beef anu
raclihs house products ETC., from Kansas CITY 10
Chicago.
The complaint then outlines the course of business
in the handling of such traffic, shipments OF csie
being received in Kansas and the Indian Territory ny
lines reaching the grazing points, and consigned ny
the shippers Chicago, with privilege, neVcrheiess'
of stoppng of at Kansas CITY, The complaint reeiies
that each line engaged in said traffic owns con-
siderable amount of equipment especially constructed
therefor. or late, however, the transportation Oh
cattle, especially from Kansas City to Chicago' mas
been largely carried by the use OF private stochcas
Of various socaled improved patterns, the owners OF
gotiatIon with dealers in live stock, and to collect nom
the lines hauling the cars a mileage of 34 cent per
mile run Such are. TO large extent, taken west
from Chicago initial points, and loaded for Chicago
with without the privilege OF the Kansas Cy mar
ket. as the shippers may desire One result OF this
practice. the complaint says is that the cattle cars
owned by all the lines are now, 10 largo extent,
unemployed 1t rccitcs that tho complainant Is IN
formed that the defendant has leased 400 OF It's
unemployed cattle 10 the American Live stock
Commission Company, at a rental of S6 per car per
month. The mileage upon said cars IN
both directions in the ordinary course
of affairs, would amount TO at least
sl2 per month, Attending profit OF
a, least S6 per month per car to said lessces
Complainant saws that the repairs on said cars, and
the services assumed by the lessor in collecting mile
age earned make the socalle1 rental almost nomi-
nal that arrangement of this Sort by which the
ordinary equipment OF line is leased outright to ship
pers, is unusual and Irregular that in so far as the
payment of such mileage is made participated In by
the defendant I'm the of its cars, any sum III
of as per per month realized by said leseos
is in the nature of rebate, aud complainant AYERS
that the transaction is device whereby the def ndaht
viii receive from said American Live Stock Com
mission Company less compensation for the trans
portatlon Of cattle than it received from other per
sons for like aud contemporaries service The
pecunary inucement to shippers thus Afforded by ue
PENDANT is alleged to be an unjust discrimination
Complainant is unable forth the precise terms
of tho contract referred to- and asks that defendant
be required to make the same part OF its answer
Complainant also alleges that The defendant has en-
tered into contract OF another nature whereby has
contracted with one or all Of the principal houses
engaged in Strengthening cattle and hogs al
Kansas city and vicinity for the exclusive ansporia-
ton of such shipments for considerable term OF
years. Such a contract With ono of said shippers,
the complaint alleges, would practically control the
Of for
that material reduction in rates from Kansas City
to Chicago. max July TO- 1889, forced upon the
other roads by defendant, as is believed with view 10
put the defendant In position to carry out It's oDsa-
ton under said contract Complainant AYERS that SAID
contract Is also, in many ways, in conravention OF
the act 10 regulate commerce.
Under Section IL OF the act complainant requests
an investigation by tho Commission in respect TO the
methods of the Chicago and Alton. concerning It's
manag smcnt of said traffic with SPECIAL reference
10 the alleged contracts referred to.
complaint has also been filed by the Chicago. Rock
Island and Pacific Railroad Company against the
Chicago and Alton. II alleges that complainant anu
Chicago and Kansas CITY that complainant alsQ OWLS
Kansas and Nebraska Hallway. Under tariffs issued
al different dates. through rates on i've STOCK from
points west of Kansas city 10 Chicago were maze, WIN
the privilege Of stOppagc and sale at Kansas city put
subject TO certain conditions set form IN said taIls
If tho cattle not sod at Kansas CITY they couiu
be reshipped ander the original through billing Inc
Alton line has local tariffs in effect from Kansas CITY
to Chicago, which are or were greater man me pOpo-
lion of through rates received by 1t for The same
vices live stock brought from western points
city anu there sOll The Chicago ana AltJh
has assisted upon the right TO carry such stock TO
Chicago at the proportion from Kansas CITY OF the
rates named in the through shipment, and has pro,
iected through rates such traffic by paying local
rates 10 the Western lines 10 Kansas City, and taking
for rs compcnsa Tor the transportation TO ChcasO
Tho remainder of the through rate The complainant
contends that defendant has no right TO declare arc
make Itself party to the Joint rate, when 10 Is not
acrually party to such rate, and charges that by
80 doing The Chirago and Alton violates section OF
the Act TO Regulate Commerce.