Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-05
TO UNFGTER TRAFFIC
Preventing Discrimination in
Transportation Rates.
THE PRIVATE CAR EVIL
HOW TRUSTS CAN CRUSH SMALL
COMPETITORS.
Methods Employed by the Beef Trust
and Standard Oil Company
Mr.. Stevens Measure.

Inc nrSI measure OHore0 tn1S SESSION.
aimed at the owners of private freight
and refrigerator cars, and at the beef
trust monopoly. has been introduced in
the House of Representatives by Repre-
sentative F. c. Stevens of Minnesota,
member Of the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce.
Shortly before the holiday recess Chair
man w. P. Hepburn of the committee,
after several conferences with the Presi-
dent on the subject, requested Mr.. Stew
ems to draw a bill and have it ready when
Congress reassembled.
The bill which has been presented Is in
accord with President Roosevelts strong
recommendations in his latest annual
message when he called attention to the
Determinations and rebates resulting
from the use of private freight and re-
frigerator cars. and urged Congress to
take speedy action toward remedying the
evil. The interstate commerce commits
sion also vigorously called attention to
overcharges and monopolies caused by
use Of private car lines owned by the
beef trust when engaged in dairy and
fruit business. The committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce of the House
resolved to take up this matter expedi-
tiously.
Long and Comprehensive.
The bill Is quite long and comprehen-
sive First. it extends the interstate COM
| merce law and powers of the interstate
commerce commission to embrace all pri-
waite freight cars or ears not owned by
railroad companies used for carriage of
freight. The bill provides that any ia
cilities extended or services performed In
and about the property transported In
| these private cars are made part of the
obligation of common carriers and part
of the contract of transportation. Every
owner of private freight cars or freight
| lines must file with the interstate COM
merce commission, in the same way that
| all railroad schedules are filed, a list of
| its rates received for use of private cars
| as refrigeration and things of that sort
performed for the property while In
| transit. Every private car line Is re-
quired to report annually and as often
during the year as the interstate COM
merce commission shall require the same
facts provided by law in case of railroad
companies, and. in addition, show the
rates charged, the amount earned for use
of the cars and for other services rem
| dered and specifically show the names of
| owners and operators of the cars, and, If
| corporation, the names and addresses
of stockholders.
Discrimination Made Unlawful.
The bill makes it unlawful for any
owner or operator of private cars to So
| licit, give or receive any discrimination,
rebate or unjust advantage by reason Of
use of such cars that the cars shall be
| transported at no higher or different
| rates than that provided, in the schedules
| of rates filed with the interstate, COM
merce commission; that the shippers in
other cars shall not be subjected to any
discrimination thereby; that the amount
| charged for private cars shall be just
and reasonable and no greater than is
| paid by the railroads in It's usual business
| with other railroads for use of similar
cars; and that all charges for service
such as refrigeration, &c, shall be just
and reasonable, and giving the interstate
! commerce commission full authority to
| investigate and settle any question or
dispute concerning the same.
The penalties provided are Identical
| with those of the Elkins bill passed In
| the last Congress in cases Of rebates and
discrimination of railroad companies
which the interstate commerce commits
sion has reported as having worked salts
| factorily.
| lance to the dairy, fruit and cattle shipping
interests of the United States as is the
other bill giving the interstate commerce
commission power to fix rates. For several
years the evils of private freight and re-
| frigerator cars have been increasing, until
now as the interstate commerce commits
| sion in its latest report shows, they have de-
veloped into almost an intolerable monop-
oily. Formerly there were many different
| lines of fruit, dairy refrigerator and cattle
| cars. There was competition among them,
so that services were excellent and prices
reasonable to the public.
At the Mercy Of Trusts.
But within the last year or two the Stand
ard Oil Company, by Its tank cars the beef
trust and especially the Armor Packing
| Company by its refrigerator cars. have OBJ
| tanned almost a monopoly in this line Of
| business. They have compelled railroad
companies to make exclusive contracts for
| long period for the use of their cars. In
case before the interstate commerce COM
mission it Is shown that the Pere Marquette
Railroad Company made an exclusive con-
| tract for five years with the Armor Pack
ing Company for the use of its private re-
| frigeratOr cars. This practically placed the
whole fruit business of Michigan at the
| mercy of the beef trust 1t raised the prices
| of it's cars, and it's charges for icing and
refrigeration of cars to $45 car for Ice,
when a reasonable price for this service
should not have exceeded SO ton. The
effect of this monopoly by the beef trust
was clearly shown during the beef strike,
when the Armour Packing Company en-
| tered the poultry business and was corner
| ing the supply of poultry In the west. This
| it could easily do because 1t requires rail-
road companies to exclusively move its re-
frigerator cars on the penalty of not hav-
| ing any of the beef trust business If they
refused to accede to the demands of the
| trust. and the beef trust shippers are the
U
would charge two or three times the fair
or customary price for the use of its cars,
which, of course. would have to be paid by
any competing shipper,
Burden on Small Competitors.
This exorbitant profit would practically
enable the beef trust to transport Its sup
plies of dairy products, poultry, eggs and
fruit for nothing. and in that way 1t could
freeze out any competitor at any place and
at any time it desired. =
The testimony before the Interstate COM
merce commission shows that at different
times the beef trust has been engaged in
the dairy business, in the egg business, and
dealing in fruits and poultry.
The Milwaukee brewers also have a
method of dealing with their private cars
by which they secure rebates and discrimi-
nation amounting to many thousands of
dollars annually.
1t Is realized that unless this monstrous
| oil 10 alax,cI< oa .cl 4 Ia ..=>