The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-10
PRIVATE CAR LINES MUST GO.
THAT IS THE OPINION OF TIE
INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
The senate Committee on Interstate Com.
merco and All the Great Railroads
Agree-IAttle Railroad Legislation
Needed n This Abuse 10 Stopped.

Agree-MttIe Railroad Legislation
Needed II This Abuse 10 stopped.
WASHINGTON, Sept. o.-Members Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission predict
that the private car line business as now
conducted separately and apart from the
railroads will in a comparatively short
time cease to exist. This Is indicated, they
say, by the attitude of the railroads as we'll
as the certainty that If tho private car lines
continue as at present organized they will
be placed under regulations such as govern
the railroads.
This subject has assumed prominence at
this time as q result Of replies now being
received by the commission to the COM
plants that charges for refrigeration on
fruits from California and on vegetables
from the South and Sou Invest to New York
are unjust and unreasonable and that the
private car lines had paid rebates and were
guilty Of Determinations.
The answers received thus far indicate
in general way the line Of defense which
the private car lines will take In opposing
the efforts OF Congress to place restrictive
legislation upon them. The answers also
show most clearly what the position OF the
different railroads OF the country Is to be
toward the private car lines. 1t develops.
and it Is the opinion unofficially Of members
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission,
that the railroads have decided absolutely
to wash their hands OF the private lines
and accept no responsibility for them
whatever. In every answer made thus
far the railroads disclaim any RESPONSE
bility for the making Of charges and even
for the collection OF the charges Of the
private car lines. They assert without
qualification that they do not act even as
agents for the concerns furnishing refrigera-
ton.
The private car lines seem in their answers
to have been apprised OF this attitude on
the part Of the railroads, because their re-
plies almost paraphrase those Of the rail-
roads In declaring that they are not the
agents OF the railroads and the railroads are
not their representatives In any sense.
As having bearing on the future legis-
lation governing railroad rates and reaching
the private car evil, it is now we'll estab-
lished that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, the Senate Committee on Inter-
state Commerce and all of the great rail-
roads OF the country are united in the
opinion that the private car fines must
20. It is evident that the latter, in o pposing
restrictive legislation, will have to make
the fight alone.
A member Of the Interstate Commerce
| Commission, speaking unofficially, said
1T looks now as though the President
would succeed in getting legislation which
will destroy tho present system of private
car lines and force the railroads into the
necessity OF furnishing refrigeration and
other facilities for the handling of perish
able freight. If they do this they will be
responsible for the charges in connection
with such facilities under the law, just as
they now are for the ordinary freight
charges. This means that they will have
to publish regular scho dules OF rates, and
hence the Commission will exercise it's
right under the law Of regulating them.
sMr. Cockrell. a member Of our commits
sion, was quite right in the interview he
gave the other day, when he asserted that
! Il would be but right for the railroads to
furnish the special ABILITIES, and that 1t
was entirely wrong for them to be In po-
eition where they can delegate any part Of
their duty and resi- onsibility as common
carriers to anyone else. Many OF the rail-
| roads are already accepting this view Of
the situation. In the Louisville Stockyards
case, carried to the highest court in the land
| il was held specifically that such special
facilities should be furnished by the rail-
roads. Some Of them are already won over
to this view, and have given us definite
assurance that they will furnish such facil-
ties.
.Two striking examples Of this in the
West arc the Pere Marquette and Michi-