Omaha daily bee., 1890-01-09
THE CAPITAL CITY CRIST.
How Station Agents Should Dis
tribute Cars.
MAsoNs AND THE SALOON MEN.
The Rumored Expulsion OF Liquor
Dealers n Fact-That Eimwood
Elevator Case - State
House Notes.
LINCOLN BUREAU OF Tus OMAHA BEE,
1929 Il STREET, \
unnIA ArAA Ian y L

LINCOLN BUREAU OF TuE OMAHA BEE,
1929 L STREET,
LINCOLN. Neb., Jan. 8.
Since the beginning OF the grain blockade
on all western roads a great many con-
plants have been made to the board of
transportation concerning the distribution
among shippers of the comparatively few
cars Mt the daily disposal Of the railroad
superintendent.
The following is n copy OF a letter from
the office of the secretaries in reply to a
complaint from a shipper ut Bromfeld,
Neb. The letter is OF general interest as
stating the principles governing decisions of
the board upon such matters whenever ap-
peal is taken from the rules of the railroad
companies:
Mcssrs. kellogg & Craybill, Aurora, Neb.,
Jan. 1.-Gentlemen Replying to your favor
of tho 9TH inst, in reference to an oroer sub
mitted by the Is. Il NJ. railroad for the gov
ernment Of station agents in the distribution
Of cars at times when the demand for cars
exceeds the supply.
Such an order has been submitted. IL
bears date December Is, 1889, ana is ad-
dressed to all agents. 1t is in effect: To
distribute pro rata in proportion to the
number of cars loaded by each shipper dur
ing the six months from May to Octo Der
preceding. Shippers who did no business
during these SIX months to be allotted one
nail tue numOer OF cars alOtIeu TIE regular
shipper who loaded the least number of cars
during the six months period.
or course this Is arbitrary ruling. The
general superintendent OF the Is. " Nj. rail
road, from the light OF long experience, con-
siders the rule most equitable to both classes
Of grain shippers elevator men and track
buyers). We would consider the plan
adopted by the b. & M. as fair a one as is
possible to arrive at for general directions
to subordlnates. The rule would, however,
ba a,,hiapt RI modification in CaRa annual was
taken to this board. For instance. To
arbitrarily allot any portion of an insufficient
number of cars to a would-be shipper, con
tingent upon subsequently buying the
quantity needed for a load, while other
shippers with crowded elevators are denied
the number of cars needful to transport
grain already bought and ready in bin for
immediate shipment, would be, we think,
contrary to the impartial treatment required
of common carriers.
For your information IN the Bromficld
case, I'VE would inform you that a decision
would be rendered on the facts obtained at a
hearing which would follow the receipt and
filing of a statement of facts complained of
duly verified, the following principle govern
ing, viz. whenever, by reason of unusual
circumstances freights have accumulated to
an exceptional extent and are then offered in
extraordinary quantities., the company full
fills its obligations to the public by furnish
ing cars ratably aud fairly to all shippers, in
proportion TO the freights rendered by them
respectively.
This principle beng established it remains
but to determine the amount of grain actu-
ally rendered by respective shippers IN order
to arrive at the proportion of available cars
each person is entitled to. OF course a ten
der of grain for shipment could not be made
contingent upon its purchase, or upon deliv-
cry at the place of loading at a future time.
A railroad company would be under no obi
| cation to provide a car to any one upon the
mere statement, 81 am going to buy 500
htta In ~ nnrn an h ~ rlrnf x nj I1a IL n
car in which 1 may load it as 1 buy it, But
as soon as the person has got the corn on
hand, in sight, and tenders il for transporta-
ton, then begins the obligation on the part
of the company to provide means for trans
porting it. Respectfully. w. CARRIER,
Secretary.