The advocate., 1896-04-08
RAILROAD AGREEMENTS.
The Interstate Commerce Commission Sub
mits q Report In Reply to q Sem
atOrlal InaulEy.

atOrial InqulEy.
Resolutions, a copy Of which is given
below, were introduced In the Senate
January 81 by Senator PETER and
adopted February 1S. The following
a Che reply submitted by the Inter.
state Commerce Commission:
Complying with the resolutions Of
the Senate, Che Interstate Commerce
Commission transmits the information
respecting certain railroad companies,
their customs, rules, regulations,
agreements, and charges, and the res-
condolences and legality thereof. The
resolutions Of the Senate are as fol.
lows:
In THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 10, 1896
RescEDed, That the Interstate Commerce
Commission be, and 1t is hereby, directed to
iaform the Senate
First. Whether there has been o custom.
rule, regulation, or agreement long time ex-
isting among railway companies and assocla-
tlons engaged In interstate trafic whose lines
extend to or through Missouri river points,
which custom, rule, regulation, or agreement
established and maintains different rates Of
charges for carrying passengers and freight
east and west from said points, and whether
such difference In charges is reasonable and
warranted by law.
Second. Whether such agreement affects
alike companies running through lines to and
beyond said Missouri river points as we'll as
companies whose lines terminate there, giving
She names Of roads engaged In interstate
tEAfic to and through such places
Third. Whether an agreement or traffic
arrangement was recently made or en-
tered into by and between any railway
companies, associations, naming them,
whereby charges for carrying grain
and other farm products from points In
Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Okla.
homA and Indian Territory to points in Texas
and Mexico were advanced; whether such ad.
vAnGed charges are now In force; what was
she reason or purpose OF the advance, and
whether IL Is reasonable or unreasonable and
In violation Of the provisions Of the interstate
commerce law.
Fourth. Whether. In case these agreements
have been made and these proceedings had,
there IL, IN the opinion OF the Commission,
any additional legislation required to better
protect the public interests.
Attest; WIN. R. Cox, Secretary.
Replying to these resolutions In their
order, 90 aboVe:.
First There is no agreement or reg.
nlation In writing, other than the reg.
ularly established tariffs and rate
sheets, between the railroad com.
pRnies whose lines extend to or
thrOugh Missouri river points as to
what rates shall be maintained to or
from such points, Companies carry.
Ing from points east thereof use the
Missouri river as q bssing line, and
maintain the same rate to all Missouri
river poiEtS. The practice Of 80 using
the Missouri river as a baslDg point be-.
ganRbout 1875, when the companies car
rylng east of that river had no lines or
tracks west thereof. The practice or
custom 10 still In existence, and I'm.
questionably has the approval of the
railroad companies participating
thereln and the railroad associations to
which such companies belong.
The rates from Chicago and points
east Of the Missouri river to points
west In the States of Nebraska, Kan
sas, and Colorado are made, as rule,
BY q combination of the rates east and
west OF the river-that is to say, by
adding to the rate east of the river the