The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-12-22
j. OGDEN ARMOUR EXPLAINS.
II Is Really the Old Undecided Cues
ton Concerning Export Rntes.

ton Concerning Export Rates,
Chicago, Dec. 18.--In an interview
here regarding the indictments re-
turned by the federal court at Kansas
City, j. Ogden Armour, the head of
the Armour Packing Co, said:
Il understand the charges relate en-
tirely to shipments from Kansas City
to Europe. In each case the packers
have paid the full rate established by
the railroad upon such shipments. This
rate was open to anybody making such
shipments, and there was not any re-
bate, concession or discrimination what
ever to the shipper in respect of this
transaction. 1t has long been a ques-
lion between the interstate commerce
commission and the railroads whether
the transportation of property from in
terror cities Of the United States upon
4 through rate over railroads and ocean
steamers to foreign countries is within
the provisions of the interstate COM
merce act or the jurisdiction of the In
lerstate commerce commission. So far
rs | can see, the question raised by
these indictments Is whether the rail-
roads are required to file with the in
erstate commerce commission and pub
ish the through tariff on such through
shipments to Europe. With that CUES
hon the shipperS-like the packers here
would have no control or concern.
h Indictment against the Armour
company, for instance, involves two
shipments, one to Christiania, Norway,
and the other to Hamburg. The tariff
charged by the railroad and paid by
The Armour company was the regular
through rate established by the rail-
roads, which was open to everybody
who might wish to ship, and the ship
per did not either solicit or receive any
or concession from such estab-
lished rates. It would seem that If the
government desires to have the conten-
ton OF the railroads that they are not
required to file or publish these tariffs
passed upon by the courts-and | un-
derstand the railroad companies have
frequently urged that course upon the
interstate commerce commissioner
could better be accomplished by some
other proceeding or method than by the
Indictment of shippers. l understand
that the foreign shipments of cotton
are and always have been required to
be made In the same way as the ship
ments which are made the basis of
these indictments against the packers.
This is no new thing. It has been
openly going on for years without COM
plant and with the knowledge of the
Interstate commerce commission. not
only with the Burlington read. bnt 9th
or roads which have maintained the
same position upon the question as the
Burlington, and with all foreign ship
pers, without discrimination
Indictment mt Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Dec. 16.-The federal
grand jury found true bills of indict-
ment against r. d. Wood & Co., the
Great Northern Railway Co.. the Mil
tual Transit Co., c. e. Campbell,
freight agent of the Great Northern;
c. w. Lake and Paul j. Diver, Of the
Mutual Transit Co., charged it'll Civ
Ing and receiving rebates. The Ma
tional Essence Of Coffee Co. was no.
Indicted because it gave testimony. No
action was taken against the Pennsyl-
van4a, Reading or Baltimore G. Ohio
because employees Of these roads testi- |
fed before the grand jury.
i
Mr.. Filters Vesiup,tou