The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-12-23
"a -oriG Comment.
Give Power to Interstate Commerce
Commission.


The interstate commerce commission,
10 its annual report, calls special atten-
tion to the fact that il is powerless to en-
force its findings and to compel carriers
toaccept the reasonable rates found by the
commission and to desist from continu-
ing to impose the unreasonable and un-
lawful rate In conclusion the commits
sion quotes from the presidents message
the statement that 1.-The most important
legislative act now needed as regards the
regulation of corporations is an act to
confer on the interstate commerce com
mission the power to revise rates and
regulations, the revised rate to go into
immediate effect and stay in effect until
a court of review reverses it."
Concerning the fruit business, in which
the people of Michigan are deeply inter
ested, the commission says: by con.
soldation of various companies the
Armour car lines now appear, with some
exceptions noted to have a practical
monopoly of fruit in large quantities in
nest sections of the country. That COM
PaRy only permits It's cars TO more trUt
IN large quantities under an eJcluSice
contract. 1t provides the necessary num-
Der of cars for fixed mileage, the rail
roads agreeing that no other cars ShaU
be used for the purpose. The Armour
company furnishes the refrigeration for
NH oh - no
result is good service and an adequate
car supply, bit an enormous and m
reasonable increase iH refrigeration
charges"
The commission then cites the fact
that the refrigeration charge per car
from Michigan to Boston has beer iu-
creased by this monopoly from so to 500
per ear, from Michigan to Dubuque
from $40 to $3.50 per car, and from
Michigan to Duluth from $50 to SO
per car.
A glance at the above figures shows
what a vast sum of money Michigan
fruit growers are wrougfuly compelled
to contribute to the Golfers of this con
scienceless and grasping monopoly. The
average increase in refrigeration charges
according to the official figures is S33 33.
1t is not to be presumed that prior to
the Armour monopoly cars were iced at
a loss, so the increased cost may be
reasonably taken as the sum which the
shipper is unjustly compelled to pay into
the treasury of the Armour car trust. Ia
a reasonably fair fruit year there will be
in Van Buren, county alone not less than
the different railways, probably greater
number, and this represents a loss of
100000 to the fruit growers of the
county.
There is absolutely no remedy for this
matter short of congressional legislation
along the line suggested by the commits
sion and recommended by President
Roosevelt. The railroads will oppose
such legislation most strenuously, the
Armour company will fight it and back
up the fight with millions which have
been, very largely, taken from the peo-
pie by means that would put highway
man to shame. There is going to be
battle, and it remains to be seen which
is the stronger, the people in conjunction
with their president, who has most hear
tily espoused their cause, or the rail
roads and the car trust. Are these latter
the servants or the owners of the people?
What are you going to do about it, you
tillers of the soil, you patrons of hus-
bandry, you horticulturists and fruit
growers The least you can do is to
write to your senators and congressman
nrging them to press this matter. No
matter IL letters come to them like snow
fakes 10 winter storm, send them along,
let them know what you want, yea what
you demand at their hands. Senator
Burrows has pledged himself to give the
matter careful consideration, Congress
man Hamilton has written that he is
with the people in this matter, so as
General Grant so tersely said, push
things"