Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-21
Some Interesting Statements in
Support Of the System Now
In Vogue,
ARMOUR LINES MAN TALKS.
Mentions Idaho as a State Where Ex'
pOrtation Of Fruit Has Doubled
Under System
Special Correspondence.


request OF Representative Stevens Of
Minnesota, chairman Of the subcom-
mittee of the house committee on inter
state commerce which Is considering
a bill to bring private car lines within
the operation OF the interstate COM
merce act, George b. Robbins, president
Of the Armour car lines. this morning
agreed to supply TO the members OF the
subcommittee for their private infor-
nation, figures as to the receipts Of
his company for mileage on their cars,
operating expenses, etc. Mr., Robbins
at first demurred TO Mr.. Stevens re-
quest, whereupon the latter said "Of
course the committee has no power to
compel you to produce this information
nor Is there any Intention at the present
time to ask for such power, but l think
IL would be a good idea for you TO SUBJ
nit it, Mr. Robbins replied that such
Information was necessarily Of a pri-
vate character and that the company
had many enemies who might distort
the information and make It mislead-
ing. Therefore he did not believe he
public record, but, n the members OF
the subcommittee would hold it in con-
fidence he would be disposed TO favor
ably regard the request Mr. Stevens
assured Mr.. Robbins his confidence
would be respected and the latter then
agreed that at his first opportunity he
would submit the Information desired,
RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE,
In his statement to the committee
Mr. Robbins said he would ignore most
Of the allegations made by 70. NJ. Fer
guson the Duluth commission mer-
chant, who recently testified at length,
but would reply to some Of them, Mr.,
Ferguson erred, he siad, In stating prl-
vate car companies We're not responsible
to shippers for damages. The com
pany was always settling claims OF this
kind and In one season IN California
alone, paid over $4,000 on this account
and like amount to Georgia shippers
In another season. I'VE obligate our
selves 20 actually furnish all the cars
required under exclusive contracts he
said. "and hold ourselves responsible for
damages IN case Of failure TO do so and
we also pay damages for Iaulty equip
ment or faulty refrigeration As a
rule instead OF the railroads sup
plying ice to the car companies, the
latter furnished their own Ice and sold
20 the railroads besides I'VE supply
every pound Of fee used In California,
Georgia, the Carollnas, and Florida, and
many other Of the largest shipping dis
trlcts. Besides the initial ice we sup
ply every pound used en- route, from our
own stations, with our own labor, SUI
perlntended by our own salaried men,"
lie rldlculed the idea that II would
profit the railroads to own refrigerator
cars saying that in twenty years deal
ings with the railroad men he had
! found that they looked after their own
| interests very sharply, and he had no
| doubt that n this business would be
profitable to the railroads they would
| already be engaged in 1t. In support
| OF his contention, Mr. Robbins quoted
| from the testimony OF numerous rail-
| road officials. THE fruit Is frequent
| " loaded" he said before It's destlna-
| ton or route is decided and our cars
are free to go TO any destination by
| any route; thus saving the railroads
| and shippers great trouble In getting
| certain kinds OF cars for certain bust
ness and providing great convenience
and advantage by permitting change in
| destination and route Otter loading"
DO NOT HANDLE PRODUCE.
Mr.. Robbins vigorously denied the al
legation Of MIR. Ferguson that the Ar
| mour car lines, or Armour q Co., "or
! any other Armour interest had ever
dealt I'm fruit and during the past
season." he said, Armour & Co. have
dropped the handling of produce except
such beans. tomatoes, apples, etc, as
they may need for their own business;
to which practise" he added sarcastic
ally, "eyen a commission man cannot
object"
Mr. Robbins stated there was no
profit in the mileage on the fruit cars,
as they were idle three months I'm the
year. II II were not for the profit
on Refrigeration, he said, his company
would be compelled to go out Of busl-
| ness,