Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-14
PACKERS TO KILL ARBITRARY
Big South Omaha Concerns Strive to Secure
Abolition Of Bridge Tariff.
DEMAND SAME CONCESSION AS OMAHA
Railroad Man Thinks ~ PRckInG
Companies win the Fight May
BE Extended Indefinitely
Throughout the state.

Inspired by Omaha's triumph after a If
teen years battle TO secure the abolition OF
the Missouri river bridge arbitrary tarih,
the big packing companies OF South Omaha
are about to begin concerted action to OBJ
tain similar concessions. One or two OF
the packing concerns already have taken
up the matter with the proper authorities
through their Chicago headquarters. 1t is
understood. from remarks dropped by one
of the managerial ~oficials of a packing
plant, that all the packers will join in this
movement and exert their most powerful
influence in an endeavor TO secure the re-
moval Of this tariff. whose abolition for
Omaha becomes effective Monday.
Manifestly the removal OF this tariff Of
5 cents on every hundred pounds Of prod
ucts shipped across the river into Iowa
would be a tremendous thing for the big
packers. In their comprehensive view of
the situation they are said to have con-
cluded that the end to be accomplished
would justify the most potent EFFORT they
are capable of exerting. With this fact In
mind railroad men who are viewing the
prospective contest with no uncertain in
t~erest, do not hesitate to admit that there
are other things more remote than the
packers possibilities of success.
II the packers should win this fight
succeed in having this tariff abolished for
them there is a chance Of the fight being
extended to other points. albeit the original
proposition never contemplated anything
than an equalization Of conditions existing
between Omaha and Council Bluffs.
Primary Object Sought.
The primary object sought in the orig
inal plan for the removal of this arbitrary
4 ..- - ill., 1900. GNANN-0
with Council Bluffs, which had enjoyed
exclusive privileges for all these years.
said a railroad freight man, discussing the
situation. TT was never intended TO eN-
tend this concession back into the state OF
Iowa or Nebraska further than Council
Bluffs or Omaha. II 1t had been there
would be no limit now and the city OF
Fremont or the city of Columbus or any
other interior town might step In and
claim the same privileges that have been
granted to Omaha Even on commodities
shipped into Omaha from points in Iowa
east of Council Bluffs this concession does
not apply. 1t only applies on goods shipped
into Omaha from Council Bluffs. or ship
ments made from Omaha across the river
South Omaha is not within the corporate
limits of Omaha, but merely a station or
the Union Pacific. Therefore, while l car
readily see what a tremendous gain 4
would be for the big packers to get THU
concession. suppose they did, then
There Is Avery just next door to Soutf
Omaha. 1t is the location of the Omaha
Hydraulic Pressed Brick company. thu
most of whose products are sold in Iowa
Why should not and would not Avery steI
in and make the demand which Omah'
and South Omaha had made and secured
Nothing in the world to stop II. Nor is 1
beyond the pale of possibilities. Already, fl
view of the quiet maneuverings at Soutl
Omaha, 1t has been suggested that Aver!
might secure better connections with tn,
bridge by a switch track from Omaha, sa!
kim a charge on products of 81 a car o
something like that. 1t looks to me lik
the scheme would work out.
Personally, l am not averse to seeinj
the packers win their fight; I can see wha
1t would mean to them. but from the term
Of the agreement / scarcely see how 1t /
going to be made to apply to Sout
Omaha"