The Cairo bulletin., 1904-03-16
TWO IMPORTANT BILLS

Cairo shippers and shippers in al
parts Of the country, have deep in
terest in two bills which are pend
ing in congress One of them is en-
titled "A bin to compel and regulate
the carriage OF Interstate freight OF
all railroads engaged in interstate
transportation This bill was intro
duced BY Congressman Rodenberg. OF
East St Louis. and its purpose is Il
correct, if possible, trouble With
which shippers generally have TO con
tend every year car shortage and
some Of the evils incident thereto.
The bill seeks to correct the con
ditions in the manner provided In
section !, to-wt.
THAT 1t shall be the duty Of
every railroad company engaged
in carrying. or in giving bills Of
lading for carrying. personal prop
erty and live stock. between
points in different states or terri
tories, npon written application by
any person for the carriage of
any such property or live stock
over the railroad of any such com
pany, or over such railroad and
any connecting line or lines of
railroad. TO any point in another
state or territory. to receive and
commence the carrying thereof
within five days after the offer
Of delivery thereof for such car
riage, and any failure to receive
or commence the carriage OF such
property or live stock by any
such company In an ysuch case
shall entitle the person making
such application 10 recover from
such company, for each car neees.
sary for such carriage. for each
day after said five days during
which such failure shall continue,
penalty of ten dollars. recover
able by such person as plaintiff
against said company as defend
ants. by civil action in a circuit
court Of the United States for
any district In which such com
pany may have an office and
agent for the transaction OF any
buGness, upon whom summons
therein may be served.
The ostensible purpose of this bill
Is TO compel railroad companies to
receive and transport freight offered
them, within five days from the time
of such offers which carries with il
Of course, the duty to provide the
necessary cars. The shortage OF cars
Is bad enough and It may be practic
ally impossible to meet the extraord.
mary demands Of traffic at all times
so as to prevent congestion. But there
is one evil which seems to be always
incident to these conditions. which is
manifestly avoidable and which
causes most complaint against
railroad arrangements at such
times: 1t is the unjust dis
elimination between shippers. Il
without the bin of lading, upon one
an unusual demand for traffic ia.
cilites the railroad companies serve
out their cars to that class of trade
which pays them the best. regardless
Of the needs of the average shipper
For instance. If shipper has a car
or several cars Of freight for which
the rates are l0c per hundred weight
and another has several cars on which
the rate would be 15e. the latter will
get the cars. even though the appli
cation Of the former may have been
on file several days before II Is
this unjust discrimination which
ought to be done away with If possible
II Is doubtful. however, If this Law
will pass congress. There will be a
powerful railroad lobby against IT, for
II II should pass in such a form that
IL could be made effective it would
be a great trouble breeder for the
railroads.