The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-24
LAW IS INADEQUATE.

as it can make may be enforced within
a reasonable time.
PACKING-HOUSE PRODUCTS.
The recent investigation of packing
house products showed that rates below
tariff charges had been applied both east
and west of Chicago. East of Chicago the
dressed-meats tariff had been cut from 324
to cents per hundred pounds and cents
on export provisions. on some Of the lines
the vouchers and other evidences of these
illegal rates were destroyed after the
transactions were completed. West of Chi
cago the rates these products were from
2 TO cents lower than the published tariff
One line made a contract TO carry this traf-
hc for year from Kansas City to Chicago
at cents below the tariff then in force
All other lines must, of course, make the
same rate. These lines west of Chicago
made no distinction between export and
domestic business. Sometimes rebates were
paid, sometimes the freight was billed at
the cut rate, and sometimes the published
rate was reduced when the freight money
was paid. The important fact disclosed
products are habitually carried from points
of origin to the seaboard at rates below the
published tariff of to 10 cents per hun
dred pounds.
THE commission required the carriers to
file statements showing the number of cars
shipped and the rates actually charged.
When these are received the gross amount
of the rebates can be determined; at pres
ent ii can only be said to reach hundreds
of thousands of dollars. While the general
public probably receives some benefit from
| these lower rates, in the main these sums
swell the profits of the packers. These
great concerns number only about five or
six and little distinction in the rates APP
pears TO have been made between them.
| The effect is to give them enormous
advantage over. smaller competitors located
at other points. Already these competitors
have mostly ceased to exist. These dis
closures afford a pregnant illustration of
the manner in which secret rate conces-
sOns are tending to build up great trusts
and monOpolies at the expense of the small
independent operator. All of the railway
traffic officials inquired of thought the pub
lished rate decidedly too low upon these
products, although the testimony showed
! that this rate had not been maintained by
the carriers. This may or may not indi-
cate that the published tariff is too nigh:
If il is it should be reduced and a tariff
open to all and fairly adjusted between all
localities put into effect.
EXPORT RATES.
The relative rates on export wheat and
flour is discussed in the report, and the
following conclusions drawn:
First-At the present time grain and
grain products move from points of origin
to the seaboard generally upon secret rates.
This is entirely true of that portion which
| is exported, and in the main true OF do
| nestle traffic. No serious attempt was
made or could be made, TO distinguish be
| tween export and domestic in applying the
cut rate to Chicago Carriers from Chi
! cago to the scaboard do attempt to main
tain a distinction from that point upon all
rail grain.
'second-The effect of these secret rates
| is to discriminate in favor of the foreigner,
/ to give preferences To particular Shippers,
| to exclude from business the small oper-
! ator We do not intend to say that this Is
| always the result or that such result may
/ not i'm some cases be necessary. This COM
| mission has previously held that under GER
tain conditions export rate lower than
| the domestic rate is proper. 1T may be
| true that in the future commercial scheme
! the small dealer can have no place. But
/ certainly unjustihable freight-rate prefer
! ences ought not 10 contribute to that END,
| and until there is a published rate which
| is accorded to all shippers alike 1T must be
! impossible to determine whether the rates
! enforced are just unjust.
/ ''Third-TheSe rate Determinations mill
/ tate against a great American industry.
/ To an extent the rate upon flour to the for
/ eign market must be higher than that upon
/ wheat This is decreed by physical condi-
/ tions which no statute and no commission
/ can alter To that extent this industry
must expect to operate at disadvantage.
/ But many of the present determinations
/ are unnecessary; and here again 1t never
! can be known to what extent they are
! just or unjust until IT is hrst known what
/ rate this traffice actually bears.
! Nothing can more strongly emphasize
/ the necessity for such changes in the pres
! ent law will secure the maintenance or
! the published rates.
TRAFFIC ASSOCIATIONS.
! ''These secret rates from Chicago to the
/ seaboard were referred to by the witnesses
| as agreed rates The railroads had by
concerted action agreed to make and main
tain such rates. Further inquiry developed
the fact that these roads, together with
many others, were members of the Central
Freight Association, and that this associa-
ton determined the competitive rates with
| hat oh
! road was in theory at liberty to put in
/ whatever rate is saw fit. but practically the
| rates recommended by the association were
always adopted. What is done in this sec
ton by this association is accomplished in
/ other sections by other associations.
! ut is not the business Of this commission
! to enforce the antitrust act, and We ex-
/ press no opinion as TO the legality or the
! means adopted by these associations We
simply call attention TO the fact that the
! Court in the TransmiSsouri and Joint Traf-
! fic Association cases have produced
practical effect upon the railway operations
/ of the country. Such associations, in fact,
/ exist they did before those deci-
/ siOns and with the same general effect.
! In Justice TO all parties we ought probably
to add that it is difficult to see how our in
! terstate railways could be operated with
/ Que regard to the interest of the shipper
/ and the railway without concerted action
/ of the kind afforded through these asso-
The report reviews the opinions of the
/ commission and the decisions of courts
\ thereon; presents a summary of railway
/ statistics heretofore made public and de-
! votes considerable space to the subject of
safety appliances. On the last-named sub
! iect the report says: THE safety-appliance
4 law became fully effective on Aug. l. 1900.
/ and the benefcent results of its operation
/ are now being realized. The greatly in
] creased security TO life and limb by which
/ the men on freight trains and in freight
Yards now perform their work is now ap-
\ parent on every hand. Evidence of the i'm
! proved conditions resulting from the prac-
/ ticalIv universal use of automatic couplers
on freight cars appears in the records of
/ accidents and i'm the testimony of railroad
/ officials and employees. Further proof from
/ a financial standpoint is also found in the
/ records of the railway claim departments
as we'll as in those Of the several train
mems associations.
EMPLOYEES KILLED.
The report shows that for the year end
/ Ing June 80. 1901, the number Of employees
/ killed in coupling accidents was less than
/ in the preceding year by about IS per cent.
ard the number injured was less by about
/ 81 per cent. Attention is called to the form
of accident reports promulgated by the
commission under the accident law of
March . 1901 under which precise Gefni-
tions are given for the purpose OF these re-
ports to the words killed and injured. -
and that this has resulted in a uniform
system Of reporting According 10 the ac-
cident returns for the month Of July only
four employees were killed during that
month while coupling and uncoupling cars
This warrants the expectation that casual
- n IN Vrtl ha 1a-u T.,