Omaha daily bee., 1894-01-08

When the Interstate law
was frat putinto operation the railroads,
which had exerted every influence at
their command to prevent it's enact
ment, sullenly yielded 1t an apparent
obedience. But they level allowed an
opportunity 10 slip to make the law as
~burdensome and obnoxious TO the people
as was possible. Their policy has for
years been one OF nominal submission to
the authority OF the Interstate Com
merce commission, with secret violations
OF their orders as often as their pecuni-
airy interests should be threatened.
These violations, at first secret and oc-
casional, have little by little become of
greater frequence, until now the OBJ
jectionable features of the law are freely
violated and the commissioners openly
deiied.
The interstate law declares that pool
ing Of any kind is illegal, yet secret
pooling agreements have existed be-
tween numerous roads since tho law has
been on the statute book, and in their
absence, arrangements substantially
similar to pools. 1t is now reported
that the eastern trunk lines are openly
negotiating for the formation OF q pool
in violation of the law and that the only
thing standing in their way is their ina
bility to agree upon a satisfactory ratio
of distribution. The law provides
for n ten days notice to DO given
the interstate commission whenever the
existing rates are TO be either raised or
lowered. This clause has been con-
strued to mean that all reduced rates
must remain in force not less than ten
days, but the eastern roads closed the
year just past by q period of cut rates
lasting less than the time legally re-
Quired. Thelaw calls for a deposit of
printed tariffs at the quarters of the inter-
state commission, but tariffs have beenre-
peatedly changed without changing the
printed schedules, and the requests OF
the commission for information have
been contemptuously brushed aside.
The interstate law prohibits discrimina-
ton in favor OF individual shippers, but
secret rebates and special rates have
been made on nearly every road subject
to its provisions and the rate cutting is
openly avowed by the officials who have
authority.
0The elimination Of this disregard Of
law on the part of the railroad managers
of the country is to be found in an alb
stract OF a speech made by Mr.. Newell,
president of the Lake Shore, at the re-
cent meeting of eastern presidents held
in New York City and later approved by
him when its authenticity was ques-
toned. He asserts that his road in the
beginning made q conscientious effort to
live up to every requirement of the in
terstate law, but that upon finding its
business cut into by secret rebates on
other-roads he employed an agent and
instructed him to meet every such cut
on other lines by an equal cut in
their own rates. Referring to rebates
made by particular companies he says:
1--WE promptly met their cut rates and
shall continue to do so under any and all
circumstances. We have lost all faith
in the interstate commerce act and com
mission and shall not waste money in
printing tariffs to file with the commits
sion. We will meet the competition as
we find it," Such open defiance has
seldom come from an equally high rail
way source. 1t indicates increasing
boldness on the part of the railroads
and stands as q warning that unless
prompt measures be taken by congress,
railway discrimination will soon be as
fragrant as it was just previous to the
enactment of the interstate law.