The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-03-27
SHIPPERS HAVE PRIVILEGES
But Railroad Companies May Not Is-
sue Passes to Patrons or
Others Not Shipping.

sons who ship one car of stock may |
have transportation n way and both
ways, il more than one car is shipped,
but stOckmen cannot be given trans
p%ortation unless they do ship. Many
o. them in the past have been given
passes merely for the business they
would furnish in the course of a year.
The roads are restrained from Civ
ing any more passes by the Elkins
law passed at the recent session of
congress. Many shippers are not yet
aware of the change, but will be in
former as soon as they Apply for
transportation. The ruling is strict
in regard to business with stock ship
pers and the recipient as we'll as the
giver is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Concerning the matter the Omaha
Drovers Journal-Stockman says:
STOCK shippers bringing in consign-
ments are often at a loss to under
stand why the roads of which they
are patrons do not grant them fav-
ors in the way of transportation as
has been their custom in the past
and agents spend a great deal of time
explaining the position they have
been placed in by the new Elkins
law. This law is too plain to be mis-
Interpreted and prohibits roads grant
ing favors of any kind to patrons.
It's purpose is to further regulate
commerce with foreign nations and
among the states 1t puts an end
tc rebates. concessions and discrimi-
nations, its object being to place all
railroads and patrons of railroads on
an equal footing.
"Its application to the livestock
industry is at once apparent. By pro-
hibiting discrimination or granting of
favors to patrons with a view to in
Nuencing or soliciting business, it
cuts down on the amount of free
transportation which has heretofore
has been brought to the attention of
| stockmen in most cases in instances
of parties bringing in one car of stock.
In times past these shippers frequen--
ly received return transportation.
The new law provides for the trans
portation to and from the market of
shippers with two loads and in cases
of one car shipments the consignor
cannot be carried back free of charge.
The line is sharply drawn and there
il stands.
"The bill provides that the willful
failure upon the part of any carrier
subject to said acts (the interstate
commerce act and amendments) to
file and publish the tariffs or rates
and charges as required by such acts
OF strictly to observe such tariffs un-
ii! changed according to law, shall
be a misdemeanor, and upon convic.
tion thereof the corporation offend
ing shall be subject to a fine Of not
less than $1,000 nor more than 500,
900 for each offense; and it shall
be unlawful for any person, persons
or corporations to offer, grant or to
give or to solicit, accept, or receive
ton in respect of the transportation
CT any property in interstate or for
eign commerce by any common car
rier subject to such acts to regulate
commerce and the acts amendatory
thereto, whereby any such property
shall by any device whatever be trans
ported at a less rate than that named
in the tariffs published and filed by
such carrier, as is required by said
act to regulate commerce and the acts
amendatory thereto; or whereby any
other advantage is given o. discrimi
nation p%racticed. Every person o.
corporation who shall offer, grant, o.
give, or solicit, accept or receive any
such rebates, concessions, or discrimi
nations shall be deemed guilty of
misdemeanor, and OF conviction there
of shall be punished by a fine of no
less than $1,000 nor more than $40,
I OOO.'
;. ct will be noted that the bill make!
t the recipient of passes or concessions
} guilty of misdemeanor and liable tt
: fine the same as the road granting
them, and not only acceptance, bu
: solicitation of same is deemed an OF
| fanca enual tn the franS9reSSiOn q
the company in complying with tn
request. snali
: another phase of the question re
l CARDS the extension of time on tn