The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-13
ELKINS REBATE BILL
GOT TWO REPORTS.
Interstate Commerce Commission
Has Found That 1t Is Impossible
to Obtain Proof of the Grant
ing of n Rebate to Some Fa-
vOred shipper

to Obtain Proof of the Grant
ing of n Rebate to Some Fa-
VOred shipper.
Washington, Feb. 12-The report on
the Elkins rebate bill, ordered favor
ably reported upon, by the House Com
mittee on Interstate Commerce yester-
day, was filed in the House to-day by
Mr.. Mann of Illinois.
In extensive hearings before your
committee upon the general subject of
proposed amendments to the interstate
commerce law" the report recites, lit
was strongly urged by the members
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion that the provisions of existing law,
providing for punishment of the rail-
road itself, prevented the enforcement
of the law forbidding rebates and dis
examinations. The experience of the In
terstate Commerce Commission has
been that it is impossible to obtain
proof of the granting of a rebate by
the officer of railroad to some favor
ed shipper, unless the officer himself
gives the evidence, in which case he
is free from prosecution"
Continuing, the report says: THE
existing law prohibits rebates and dis
ordinations, but does not prevent the
cutting of published rates. unless dis
elimination is shown. In most cases it
is practically impossible to show the
discrimination. In the investigation
made by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, respecting rates on dressed
beef, and packing house products, from
Kansas City and Chicago, it was fin
ally discovered that for years the rail-
roads had constantly and habitually
disregarded their published tariffs, and
had carried such products at rates be-
low the published tariff to an amount
so great that the difference between
the published rates and the actual rate
amounted to millions of dollars a year;
and it was the unanimous testimony
that all the shippers who were inter-
ested in those rates got practically the
same rate.
Gives Absolute Control.
There was, therefore, no discrimi-
nation between the shippers, and no
shipper was liable to prosecution for
obtaining a rate which disseminated
in his favor. But the effect of such
secret cutting of rates is to place in
the hands of a small aggregation of
shippers the absolute control of the
business, because no person can af-
ford to enter into competition who
does not receive the cut rates, and
no person is in a position to demand,
or receive, such cut rates until he
shall have become established in bust
ness and have an extensive business
behind him.
After reviewing provisions of the
bill the report says: THE first and
second propositions practically ex-
haust the power of legislation to pre-
vent rebates and determinations
through criminal prosecutions. We
conceive it to be the desire of, Con-
gress to absolutely prevent, if pos
sible, the granting of determinations
in the way of railroad rates to favor
ed shippers. This is by many claimed
to be the greatest abuse of the day.
But we all know that the officers of
the railroads who grant rebates, and
the officers of the private corporations
who solicit and accept them, are men
of high standing in their respective
communities, and that it is very
difficult matter to obtain evidence
sufficient to indict them, and still
more difficult to obtain judges and
juries who will convict them"
The Minority Report.
The six minority members of the
Committee on Interstate ond Foreign
Commerce, reports Representatives
Shackleford, DaVey, Adamson, Ryan,
Davis and Richardson, of Alabama, al
so filed their views. After saying that
they do not oppose the bill as re-
ported, and that it will not afford much
relief, they add that the little of good
that it does contain the people should
have.
Continuing they say: '"The bill now
reported is not nearly so far-reachlng
and remedial as the Littlefield bill,
which a few days ago passed this
House on a roll call by unanimous vote.
In debate on the Littlefield bill, 1t was
freely predicted that it would never
become law, and it was openly charg-
ed that it's passage in this House was
merely for the sinister purpose of be-
quilting and deluding the people into
the belief that the dominant party was
willing to enact legislation limiting the
evils of monopoly.
"Since the passage of the bill the
public press from day to day has teem-
ed with uncontradicted announcements
that the Littlefield bill is to be thrust
aside, and the Elkins bill, and the Nell
son publicity amendment, substituted
therefor, and that no other or further
antitrust legislation is to be enacted.
Such a course would be to jest with
the country upon the most solemn
question of the day, and to trifie with
the most serious interests of the peo-
pie. If the Littlefield bill was meri-
torious when it passed this House
few days ago it is meritorious now.
1t does not in any manner conflict with
the provisions of the Elkins bill now
reported from this committee"
The minority proposes that the Dill
be amended by adding the principal
features of the Littlefield bill