Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-19
PRIVATE CAR LINES ON RACK
Interstate Commerce Commission Invssti-
eating Refrigerator Service
RATES OF RAILROADS MUCH LOWER
and Illinois Central
Charge Much Less for Icing
Than the Private
Lines DO.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 1s.-what promises
to extend into legal and legislative battle
against private car lines was precipitated
by the Interstate Commerce commission
by the course taken today at the beginning
of the hearing Instituted to show the con-
nection between refrigerator car lines and
railroads.
Counsel for the commission directed every
effort to bring out the fact that
great railroad systems operating their
own refrigerator car lines give to their
shipper a much lower rate for refrigeration
than is obtained on roads that are COM
PEELED to operate in connection with private
car lines. In this effort two railroads, not
ably the Illinois Central and the Pennsyl-
vania, through their trafic freight man
ayers. who were on the stand the greater
part OF the day, apparently aided the COM
mission. AS a result there were many
sharp Tits between the counsel for the
commission and the attorneys for the Ar
mour car lines and other private COM
panies. The action Of the commission in
initiating and prosecution the complaints
has the double purpose of establishing
its jurisdiction over the private lines and
correcting the evils complained Of. The
chief contest is expected to develop on the
point of jurisdiction.
objection from Armour Line.
Chairman Knapp opened the hearing by
reviewing the proceedings instituted and
calling up the first case, which was di-
rected practically against all of the roads
of the southeastern United States and the
Armour car lines. Frank Barry who repre-
sented the Interstate Commerce commits
L
amining witnesses stated that several
roads had not filed contracts existing with
private car lines and these were called for
by Chairman Knapp. Mr.. Urion, for the
Armour car lines objected to proceeding
until the commission has announced the
general scope and purposes of the in
quiry and indicated whether there is to be
a concrete finding on which some subse-
quent proceedings could be had.
The commission after consultation an
nounced that formal complaints had been
filed against specific companies 10 ascer-
tain whether their charges are reasonable
/ or II determinations are made against any
/ persons and that it was not prepared to
/ say what it's subsequent course would
/ be-
/ Illinois Central owns Cars.
| F. B. Bowles, freight traffic manager of
the Illinois Central road testified that his
railroad operates 2,45S refrigerator cars and
| had no agreement with private nar lines
for additional cars. He said. however,
| there is a difference in the amount paid,
/ according to the territory in which the
| cars are operated. He said the rate north
Of Cairo, ILL.,, is l cent a mile and from
Chicago to the southeast y OF cent a
mile. and that his road was compelled to
a,z- %
competitors, though no contract existed.
I Mr. Reichman for the Armour lines in
terrupted:
''The Illinois Central gets paid the same
when its cars are used on other lines"
"It does" replied Mr.. Bowles. I'VE re.
ceive a per diem charge of 20 cents car
the same as we receive for stock or boz
cars"
Mr. Bowles filed a statement to show
that the Illinois Central railroad refriger'
ator cars average about forty-four miles q
day, and IL paid for on the mileage basis
the receipts per car would be about 3;
cents. In other words. he said the private
car lines received a much higher rate fol
service than do the railroads themselves.
Cost of Icing Cars.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Bowie.
gave testimony regarding the cost OF icinl
cars from Louisiana points to Chicago
Specifying ten cars of berries shipped from
Independence. La, to Chicago he said they
were iced three times enroute and the tota
cost of ice for them was $4.O5, the ice cost
ing the company from 50 to 1870 a ton
Mr.. Barry, for the commission. said h,
believed these figures would furnish a basil
for figuring the cost of icing.
Mr. Bowles conceded further that re
frigerator cars are used frequently TO
ordinary freight, that If the Illinois Cen
tral could use it's refrigerator cars only
short period Of each year the road coult
not afford to own them.
G. D. Dixon, freight traffic manager o
the Pennsylvania railroad explained tn
use of refrigerator cars on his line. III
. said that refrigerator cars owned by tn
Pennsylvania are iced by the shipper. bu
re-iclng. when necessary, is charged on tn
bill of lading. He said that the road ha
no connection with any private car line
The hearing will continue tomorrow morn