Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-05-18
IT HAS A MONOPOLY
President Of Armour Car Lines Com
pany Gives Testimony.
CLAIMS COMPANY IS PRIVATE ONE.


Washington, May 17.-Before the
Senate committee ON interstate COM
merce which is Investigating railroad
rates, President George R. Robbins OF
the Armour car lines company, Tues
day admitted that the company had
20 or 80 exclusive contracts with rail-
roads for fruit transportation business
and acknowledged a monopoly OF that
traffic in parts Of the west and south.
Wherever these exclusive contracts
applied, he admitted the producers and
shippers of fruit had to accept the
rates laid down by the Armours. He
claimed that his company was pri-
vate one and therefore not subject
to the interest lte commerce laws. Mr.
Robbins, who was the star witness OF
the day and appeared to continue his
testimony Of Monday, was closely ex-
amined by the committee regarding
the operation of the Armour interests.
These exclusive contracts with rail-
roads, he said, were generally private
contracts, though exhibited when re-
quested. He asserted that the Ar
mours do not get any advantages over
other shippers in these cars. Replying
to Chairman Elkins, the witness said
that his company did not want to be
subject to the interstate commerce
laws. 1T seems" interjected Mr.. Elk
ms, that you want all the advantages
and none Of the responsibilities Of
common carriers"
According to the witnesses, the Ar
mours have 200 articles known as
packinghouse-p which are
transported in Armour cars.
"You control the transportation Of
these products in the private cars,
remarked Senator Kean
mot control, but the Armours ship
their products in these cars"
Mr.. Robbins admitted that on roads
where they had exclusive contracts
like the Pere Marquette line the roads
could not engage in the shipment of
the products covered in the contract,
in other cars. Those who complained
on this matter, he added, were most
ly receivers and commission men and
not the producers and shippers.
Senator Foraker examined Mr.. Bob
bins as to the cost Of icing a car from
Michigan to Boston and the latter
figured that it would cost $50 per day.
"Isn't it a matter of fact?" asked
the senator, that ice costs only about
$25 per carr"
Mr.. Robbins would not admit that
this was true. The Pere Marquette
line, he suggested, had reduced rates
from $3.50 to $500 per car and the
Armour lines had made like reduct-
ron.
Senator Dolliver asked Mr.. Robbins
regarding the business Of the Armour
car lines and its earnings.
Mr.. Robbins insisted that the COM
pany is a private one and ought not
to be compelled to expose its books
or earnings any more than any other
private company.
UNLESS we should consider that you
are a public carrier the same as a
railroad company" remarked Senator
Dolliver.
Mr. Robbins denied that the Armours
were interested in any of the fruit
companies In California of that the
Armours had monopoly of the trans
portation of California fruits, acknowl-
edging however, that his company had
monopoly of the fruit Transports
ton in the Pere Marquette region and
Georgia and Florida. The Armours,
he admitted, had exclusive contracts
with all the South Atlantic coast rail-
ways. exclusive contracts in east Tenn
essee and on certain roads In Missouri
and Arkansas and on the Southern
Pacific road. The Santa Fe was a
competing line In the fruit business
In California fruit producers and ship
ers> on these exclusive lines had to
accept the rates Of the Armour COM
pany. but Mr.. Robbins said they sat-
istied 80 per cent Of the shippers. SEN
ator Clapp asked a number OF ques-
lions as to the position Of Mr.. Robbins
in acknowledging an absolute monop-
oily and yet Withholding information
al to their business and claiming Inn
sz!SssrY ron tne-lnterstafA -s7E--' ~-''-
.n-a.-.rS~,o.. va4... 1<e Ss.=IhiuA main
tanned that his position was justified.