The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-27
MAKES 1T A LIVE LAW
EFFECT OF THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION IN THE BROWN CASE.
Doubt as to When the VIII
Build It's New Depot-Roads May
Adopt a 5000 Mileage Book.

The decision of the United States SUI
preme Court in the Brown interstate
case. to the effect that repre-
sentatives OF roads are not exempt from
answering questions regarding transactions
in rate matters, is a subject over which
there is much alarm among railroad off,
Gals, reaching down to agents who make
rates and who nave In the past been prone
10 disregard the provisions of the inter-
state-commerce law in naming rates which
discriminate In favor Of big. as against
small shippers. The drift OF commen is
to the effect that it is a far-reaching and
important decision and that hereafter traf-
fic officials will have more respect for the
interstate-commerce act. Practically the law
has been a dead letter. but this decision
will enable the commissioners to stop all
forms OF discrimination, and secure all the
evidence IL wants in convicting violators Of
the statutes. The decision ends for all
time the usefulness of the joint traffic
agreement. as far as maintaining rates is
concerned. 1t will hereafter simply be an
association for settling minor details be-
tween the different roads. II will have
virtually the same effect on all other asso-
tiotltAlc. IldQ lie QCSlciOn 0Cti NfNAo ~
the commissioners nothing would have re-
manned for them to do but TO dissolve, but
having had their position sustained by the
Supreme Court they will now be able to
apply the whip to the railroads where 1t
is most needed. The change will benefit the
small shippers and create woe among the
big ones who have enjoyed the railroad
companie3' favor. Commissioner Yeomans.
OF the acknowledgements Commission,
says that the decision is OF untold inn
portanee. IT will give the commission pow
er to do what it has never been able to
before, namely, to get at the facts In al
legged violations of law. The commission has
a great many cases pending, which have
only been waiting this decision 10 De put
to a thorough test.
New York's Export Trade Waning.
The grain committee of the New York
Produce Exchange appeared before the board
of managers of the Joint Traffic Association
at New York yesterday and made formal
protest against alleged discrimination In
freight rates on export grain. The protest
reads in part as follows: The injustice to
New York of the differential is shown by the
fact that Baltimore. ITO miles nearer than
New York to Chicago. Is allowed 3 cents per
100 pounds. and Philadelphia, ninety miles
nearer. 2 cents per 100 pounds, while Boston.
which is 10 miles farther than New York, is
diiOWcQ lnc SdIuc lEclSQI rates. III dQQlllOu
to this advantage, the Boston merchant is
entitled to twenty days free storage, and
during the fall and winter months he can
freqeunuy obtain from thirty 20 seventy-five
days. 1t is claimed that determination
against New York were established ON the
representation of Philadelphia and Baltimore
roads that this port has superior advantages
foreign ports. While, in the opinion of rail-
road men, these conditions may have existed
nineteen years ago. and the differential con-
time, we submit to you that the commerce
Of New York has steadily declined; that this
condition on ocean freights does not now
exist, and the discrimination has proved. a
ruinous tax on the grain, flour and provis-
ion trade Of this city. as well as damaged its
steamship. trade. Two ~well-known lines of
and in a period of two weeks six steamers
left this port in ballast for Southern ports
because they were unable to get a cargo
here. but were driven to these Southern
ports where an abundance of full and part
cargo business was offered. Another reason
why such discrimination should be removed
Is the fact that ocean steamers loading at
Baltimore and Virginia ports, under the
British flag, are allowed in the winter
months. by the Board of Trade of Great
Britain, i've to six inches deeper draft than
when loaded at New York, and on this draft
these ships will carry from 800 to 200 tons
f%epeStiai seaboard APPLIES both to the ne vow
ages to as we'll as from the Southern ports"
me- VI IL MlleaBe hOOks
1t is stated that E. o. Mccormick, pas
senger traffic manager Of the Big -Four, is
a strong advocate of the issuing of a 5000
mile interchangeable mileage book, so strict
ly guarded by signature of name, photo
graph, etc., that it can be used only by
bona fde purchasers. This is what the COM
mercial travellers want, and it is thought
such a book will, through the rulings of
tho IQfpt Traffic Accocia ffa8 ba ;ocraI t.
is stated that the commercial travellers are
willing that all reasonable restrictions be
thrown around the mileage books to pre-
vent scalpers handling them. Every year
the general passenger agents become more
and more opposed to thes use of mileage
books, and the abolishiDg Of interchange
able mileage in this territory shows how
the transportation companies feel on this
question. No one denies that there are some
objections to the 5,000-mile book. Tn ticket,
to be of use to travelling men, must be good
over some of the short lines as we'll as over
certain systems of roads. officials of the
been no plan presented that would insure
each Of the roads over whose lines the
ticket might be good a strict accounting of
are small things, and are easily lost by
conductors and others handling them. This
would give the road selling the ticket or
book a great advantage over the other
lines on which the ticket would be good.
For example. a small road might sen a
great NUMBER OF these DOCKS, Tor which IL
would be paid in full. In using up the book
a traveller might go over all the roads
named on II. One road might receive all of
the coupons taken up. and be paid for them,
while another road might never receive all
the coupons that had been used on its
lines. 1t viii thus be seen that the road sell
ing the tickets would be the only line sure
OF its money, and of the money Of the roads
that would not receive all of their coupons.
The travelling men say that this obstacle
is exaggerated by the railroad people; that
il is a mere detail. that could be salts
factorily arranged were the railroads willing
to issue the tickets.
The ~Panhandle's New Depot.
Col. oran Perry. general agent OF the
Pennsylvania lines at this point, who
knows how badly the Pennsylvania Conn
pany needs more freight depot room. said
last evening that the company had been
for years trying to purchase the square
OF ground west of Delaware street, be-
tween the Union tracks and Georgia street,
and he was afraid ii would be two years
before the new freight depot will be built.
Work may be begun on 1t sooner, however.
He thinks the Pennsylvania Company has
the best site in the city for its new depot.