Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-01-30
RAILROAD REBATES.
Interstate Commerce Commission
Denounces Certain Practices.
INDUSTRIAL COYIlSSIOy'S REPORT.



Washington, Jan. 24.-The annual
report of the Interstate Commerce
commission, which was transmitted
to congress yesterday, renews the
declaration made in previous reports
that in it's present condition the act
to regulate commerce cannot be en-
forced. The feature of the report IL
the almost sensational statement Of
the relations existing between the
railroads and a comparatively few
heavy shippers. Referring to the com
missions recent Investigations into
the amount of clearinghouse products
and of grain and grain products, the
report says:
| The facts therein developed are Of such
a character that no thoughtful person can
contemplate them with Indifference. That
the leading traffic officials of many Of
the principal railway lines, men occll.
plying high positions and charged with
the most important duties, should DELHI
erately violate the statute law Of the
land, and In some cases agree with each
other to do SO; that 1t should be thought
by them necessary to destroy vouchers
and to so manipulate bookkeeping as to
obliterate evidence Of the transactions;
that hundreds Of thousands of dollars
should be paid In unlawful rebates to a
few great packinghouses; that the busi-
ness of railroad transportation should to
such an extent be conducted In open dis
regard of law, must be surprising and
offensive to all right-minded persons.
Equally startling at least Is the fact that
the owners of these packinghouses, men
whose names are known throughout the
commercial world, should seemingly be
eager to augment their gains with the
enormous amounts Of these rebates which
they receive In plain defiance of federal
statute.
In view of those great combinations
which have been formed and are now
forming. by which railway competition,
which upon the present theory Of this law
is greatly relied upon to secure Just and
reasonable rates and facilities, will be
largely eliminated, some method should
be provided by which the government can
exercise In fact that control over rail-
way rates and operations which many
persons suppose that 1t now exerts. The
commission believes that the whole law
should be revised upon some correct
theory and some workable basis.
Taking up the practice prevalent in
the west of allowing some particular
individual concession which enables
him to handle practically all the grain
transported upon a particular rail
way, the report says:
While the Investigations of the commits
sion have not fully covered this aspect of
the case as yet, 1t is matter of common
information and we know from repeated
complaints received that some one firm
Or some individual purchases substantially
all the grain which is handled by a given
line OF railway, and the claim is made
and the inference is almost a necessary
one that this firm or Individual must re-
ceive concessions which enable It or him
to underbid other buyers In the same
market. These different lines, In an eff
fort to obtain a share of this business
and to divide 1t up among different COM
peting routes deem 1t necessary to drive
out of business the small buyer and to
operate through a single large concern.
One effect of this is to- put the miller out
of the market as an Independent buyer.
Industrial Commissions Report.
Washington, JAN 24.-The indus.
trial commission, after several years
spent in investigation of the indus
trial condition of the country, with
the view of making recommends
tons relative to assist in the solution
of the problems of the times, COM
pleted and sent to the printer its
final report. 1t is expected that this
report will be presented to congress,
as required by law, within the next
few days. The final document will
be a volume of about 1000 pages and
will be a review Of the evidence con.
tanned in the previously published
volumes. In this last volume the va
rlons questions which have been con-
sidered In the course of the inquiry
are discussed under separate head
ings and recommendations are made
On the subject Of the trusts the
commission follows closely the lines
OF recommendations laid down by the
president In his annual message. The
supervision by the national govern.
ment is recommended. The most
radical specific step suggested in that
direction by the report is that the
books of all corporations should be
subject at all times to inspection, AZ
are the books OF national banks.
This, it is claimed, would 70 far
toward protecting the public against
impositions in the way of over CAPT.
talization and other devices. The
commission discusses government
ownership of railroads and telegraph
lines, but does not recommend such
a departure from present methods.
There are some recommendations
concerning taxation that will attract
attention. One Of these looks to
the imposition of certain taxes nm
private property by the states di.
rect.
The Metcalf Charges,