Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-06
FOR LOWER RATES
How Shippers Are Disseminated
Against by Railroads in
Illinois.
SERIOUSLY AFFECTS BUSINESS
g. w. Mueller Gives Inside History
OF Efforts OF Three Years 10
Secure q Reduction.

Shippers have been endeavoring for
three years to secure reduction in
freight rates in Illinois to correspond
with those in force in neighboring
states. In Illinois they are - to 80
per cent higher than i'm any other
state east Of the Missouri river, ac-
cort.ing to the statistics read 10y
George w. Mueller. a wholesale gro
Ger of Decatur, who addressed the
meeting at the Illinois theatre last cV-
cning. Mr.. Mueller has been a leader
in the agitation since its inception.
and evidently has devoted considera-
Bile time To a study of the question.
He reviewed the history of the
movement, which had its beginning
with n petition from shippers present
ed to the railroad and warehouse com
mission - ting forth the injustice
that was being worked on the bust
ness interests of III 'nois as result of
the low rate prevailing in other
states. making 4 possible for outside
concerns to lay down their goods at
points in Illinois. although the haul
WAS much greater. as cheap and some
times cheaper than the wholesalers Of
this state. There were conferences by
representatives of the shippers from
rs many different important towns
and the general freight agents Of sew
en- Of the Leading roads. but no agree
mcnt could he arrived at.
bit OF Inside History.
The railroad representatives admit
ted that there was great difference
in the rates charged in Illinois and in
ncighbOring states. and only had tech
nical reasons to offer justifying the
discrimination. The railroad and ware
house commission thercupOn suggest
ed that the shippers employ attorneys
and institute legal proceedings against
the railroads. This was done. and one
day Mr.. Mueller received "a long dis
lance telephone message from Spring
field to the effect that the commission
had decided ON cut in freight rates
of - per cent. lie FASTENED to the
state capital. happy in the thought
that after all his Iaburs and those Of
the men who had 0oopcrated with him
in the agitation had not been in vain.
The news was heralded over the coun-
try through the newspapers. but the
following day the discovery was made
of the commission who had affixed his
signature to the order reducing the
rates. Mr.. French, his colleague on
the commission, for some unknown
reason, had changed his mind, and re-
fused to concur. Letters poured into
Decatur from all parts Of the state
addressed To MIR. Mueller stating that
the order for the cut had been entered
were still paying the same old rates.
Despite the order can now be found in
the minutes of the railroad and ware
house commission at Springfield. it
has never been put into effect.
Governor Assumes Responsibility.
Mr.. Mueller and his committee next
turned their batteries on Gov. Yates.
He assumed responsibility for failure
of enforcement of the cut. He said
he was the head of the business aG-
miniStration Of the state. and if an act
of any one of the boards appointed 10y
him was not to his liking he ordered
il changed. and if it was not done he
would alter the complexion of the
board. Hence MIR. Mueller felt that il
was not the railroad and warehouse
commiSs:I III that was to blame. but the
governor The speaker denied he was
talking for political effect. He never
mixed i'm politics. but he did not pro-
pose supporting a man VIII" stood a.
an obstacle to the success of his bus
mess. and he believed he was voicing
the sentiment of every shipper in the
state of Illinois. 1t was not alone the
shipper that was affected. The re-