Evening star., 1897-04-07
CALLED TO ACCOUNT
Interstate Commerce Commission Asks
Railroads for Information.
Alleged Determination in Grain
Rntes-Stntcments Called for
From Many Companies.

road and business circles throughout the
country by the recent decision of the Su-
preme Court of the United States in the
case of the Trans Missouri Traffic Associ-
alton has passed away. the Interstate COM
merce commission has thrown a bombshell
right into the camp of the joint Traffic
Association and caused, it is said, conster-
nation among the executive officers of
most of the roads belonging to it. This
bombshell is in the form of notice to the
railroad companies to file with The com
mission by Saturday of this week "veri-
fled copies of all contracts or agreements
at any time In force between April l, 1886,
and March l. 1897, relating to the ship
ment transportation. transfer in transit,
switching or transferring loaded ears from
one line to another line, loading or unload
ing. storing warehousing of grain and
grain products. and the passing of grain
through elevators: and also copies OF all
contracts relating thereto, or leases of
storenouses or elevators owned or stu
ated upon premises owned or controlled by
sait. carriers, or either of them which have
been since April /, 1885, used now used
by persons or corporations other than said
railroads for storing or elevating grain;
and if any contract. agreement or UNDER
standing Of the character last above men
toned has been in operation 1T any time
since April l. 1886. which has not been re-
duced to writing, the carrier party thereto,
into, is REQUIRED to show in detail in its
answer the terms and conditions of such
contract. agreement or understanding, with
the date thereof, time of operation, the
names OF the persons who acted for such
carrier, and TIE names of the persons by
whom the accounts relating thereto were
kept
The roads which have received copies
Oh this order, which Is unusually pereInpt-
ory in tone. are the Baltimore and Ohio
Pennsylvania. Chesapeake and Ohio; also
the Chicago and Western Indiana Chicago
and Erie: Erie, Michigan Central. Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern New York
Central and Hudson River. Pennsylvania
company, Pittsburg. Fort Wayne and Chi
cago: the Pittsburg. Cincinnati, Chicago
and ST. Louis; Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and
ST. Louis Railway Company; Louisville New
Albany and Chicago; Louisville and Nash
vile: Cincinnati. Hamilton and DAYTON:
Chicago and Northern Pacific: Chicago Cen
trail; Pittsburg and Western; the Baltimore
and Ohio ard Chicago; Baltimore and Ohio
Southwestern; Columbus, Hooking Valley
and Toledo; Cincinnati, Portsmouth and
Virginia. Norfolk and Western; Indiana
Illinois and Iowa; Ashland Coal and Iron
Railway Company; Chicago, Hammond and
Western; Chicago and Eastern Illinois; Ell
gin, Joliet and Eastern; Belt Railway Com
pany of Chicago: Northern Indiana Rail-
road company; Chicago Lake Shore and
Eastern: Indiana Northern; New York
Chicago and St. Louis; Wabash; West
Shore. and the Lehigh Valley.
The reason for the action is stated to be
that the attention of the commission has
been called to alleged violations of the act
to regulate commerce in transporting grain
and grain products from Chicag and other
points in Illinois to the Atlantic seaports at
various times between January and March
j! OF the present year, and the commission
regards 1T as its duty to examine into these
charges. 1t demands to know of the roads
above named.
agent or employe thereof. directly or indi-
rectly, by any special rate, rebate draw
Rack CT other device, charged demanded
collected or received from any person or
persons greater or less compensation foI
any service rendered. in the transportation
of grain products during the period afore-
said. than it has charged, demanded, col
lected or received from any other persons
| or persons for performing for him or them
like and contemporaneous service.
| =. whether said carrier. or any officer
| agent or employe thereof. during the perioc
aforesaid, has. in the transportation OF
grain or grain products between the points
aforesaid, or In connection with such trans.
Tortation. made or given any preference OF
| advantage to any particular person, com
| pahy, firm or corporation, in any respect
whatsoever.
| 5. Whether. in respect 10 the transporta
| ton of such traffic during the period afore
! said. said carrier. or any officer. agent cl
| employe thereof, has paid. or promised OF
| agreed to pay any rebate. bonus or com
| mission or anything of value, or done OF
| rendered. or agreed to do or render, any
| service of value whereby any shipper ha!
| been directly or indirectly specially benefit
| ed or harmed thereby.
| i. Whether, during the period aforesaid
| said carrier or any of1icer,ag or employ,
| thereof, has made any contract, agreemen
| or arrangement for the future transporta
| tion of grain grain products at rate
| different from the published tariff rates il
, effect at the time such contract, agreement
! arrangement or understanding was made O
| entered into
As if this was not enough to worry tn
| companies involved. the commission has al
! ready informed them that it intends to full
| enforce the act for the regulation of com
| merce.