The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-08-24
private CAPIINEs
Many Complaints From Macy Sec
tions lave Been Lodged
INTERSTATE COMMISSION ACTS
Southern, Seaboard, Atlantic Coast
Line and Other Railroads. Along
With the Armour Car Line tnd
Other Such Concerns Are Made Re-
spondents in Proceedings.

Washington, Special.-The inter-
State commerce commission, on its own
initiative and as a result Of complaints
against private car lines, Unexpectedly
began an investigation OF the relations
between railroads and refrigerator
lines, BY which it is charged that the
act to regulate interstate commerce is
being violated in several specified par
ticulars. The complaint set forth by
the commission is directed against the
Armour Car Line, the American Refrig'
orator Transportation Company, the
Santa Fe Refrigerator Dispatch, and
the following railroads:
St. Louis & San Francisco, Atch!son,
Topeka & Santa Fe, st. Louis, Iron
Mountain & Southern, Central OF Geor-
gia, Southern Atlantic Coast Line, Sea-
board Air Line, Pennsylvania, South
ern Pacific, and Kan-as City South
ern.
The railroads and refrigerator lines
are made respondents in proceedings
which require that specific answer to
all allegations be made to the inter-
State commerce commission by Septem-
ber 5.
It Is charged that by way OF rebates
or other devices the refrigerator lines
are acting for the railroads as author
lied agents, and the railroads, acting
through the refrigerator lines, are col
lecting and receiving for the refrlgera-
tion OF fruit and vegetables lower rates
from some shippers than they are con-
temporaneously receiving for similar
service rendered to other shippers. This
is held to be in violation ot section
and 3 of the act to regulate Interstate
commerce.
Another charge is that failure and
neglect to publish at shipping stations
and file with the interstate commerce
commission the rates and charges I'M
posed for the refrigeration OF fruits and
vegetables, constitutes violation OF
section 6 of the inter-Sta:e commerce
act.
The commission alleges further that
the charges published jointly by the re-
frigerator lines and the railroads for
the refrigeration Of fruits in certain
specified territories are unreasonable
unjust and in violation OF section l.
The territories described are Missouri,
Arkansas, Indian Territory, Texas,
California to Eastern points, louisiana
and Kansas, and Georgia. South Caro-
lima and North Carolina, to New
York.
Complaints against the private car
lines extend over the entire life OF the
first act to regulate Interstate COM
merce and all acts amendatory thereto.
Hearings have been had in various sec
tions of the country, and not ln1re-
ouently have changes in the schedules
been made for the announced purpose
of remedying alleged abuses. Compl-
nations of railroads and private car
lines have prevented any wholesaie
regulation of these rates. Charges OF
determinations against small shippers
have poured in on the commission Ior
number Of years. The matter has oeen
made the subject Of Investigation ny
congressional committees. and several
laws have been passed giving increased
movers to the commission in an enort
to reach alleged combinations said 10
he prohibitive of the small shipper en-
tering into competition with shippers
leasing by the year large numbers OF
private cars.
The action taken by the Interstate
commerce commission now indicates
belief that certain cases set forth IN the
proceedings can be reached under the
present laws. In any event, the pro,
ceedings are looked upon as test, ana
II is declared they will prove OF inesu-
mable value in informing Congress
what new laws are needed for national
control of private car lines where COM
hinations are made with railroads
which affect the freight and refrigera-
ton scedule.