The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-11-11
GIVE REBATES
TO MERCHANTS
Railroad President Reveals
the Method Used TO Evade
Injunction.
RETURN MONEY TO SHIPPERS
Young Men Employed by Routing
Agencies Quietly Visit Customers.
Leave Bundles Of Bills Upon Desks
and Then Disappear from Sight. :.

Leave Bundles OF Bills Upon Desks
and Then Disappear from Sight. =.
St Paul. MINI. dispatch: President
A. b. Stickney OF the Great Western
railway has boldly allied himself with
President Roosevelt in the fight for
railroad rates reform. The speech
which was most remarkable in many
particulars, was delivered at the ban.
cuet given here Friday night on the
occasion OF the presidents forty-sev-
enth birthday by the Original RooSe-
Welt club"
President Stlckney revealed the er.
treme methods to which the railroads
go TO gain business through rebates
and the ingenuity exercised in keep
ing the rebates secret. The railroads,
said the president OF one. have an
absolute monopoly and against them
the shipper has no chance for a square
deal
Coming from President suckney.
the address created nothing short OF a
sensation.
Return Money 10 Merchants.
Since the injunctions were issued
and the terrors OF the law are consid-
cred imminent" said President Stick
pey, Il have been told do not youch
for its truth. although have seen
what purports TO be copy OF the
contract between shippers and the
routing agency-of cases where young
men from so-called routing agencies
in New York make periodical trips
through the western cities, leaving
rot bank checks but packages OF act
ual money, without note OF comment,
upon certain merchants desks. taking
no voucher or receipt. Curiously.
when these packages are counted, they
are found TO be exactly a certain per
centage. supposed 70 be % per cent OF
the amount OF freight which such mer.
chants have paid a certain railway
company since the last previous visit
OF the young man who thus distributes
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars an.
Eually."
President Stickney explained how II
was the big shipper and not the rail
road who was responsible for the re-
bate. He explained how the big flour
mills OF Minneapolis put the small
country mills ont OF business through
the rebate system and later how
through the millingin,translt scheme
the oueside millers turned the tables
on the Minneapolis millers.
Not a Square Deal.
Stating the gist OF the law In a nut.
shell, he continued. "the railway com.
panies have an absolute monopoly and
under the law flx the price upon that
which they alone can produce and
which every living man must consume
railway transportation the law
makes Il a misdemeanor for the con-
sumner to kick Is that square
deal?
Theodore Roosevelt says II is not
square deal, and every fair-minded
man will say II is not a square deal.
In twenty years, possibly IA ten years.
there will DO few, II any, competitive
railways, and IL therefore becomes
important while we can TO establish
the correct principle in tho law
Experience has proven that no
commission can be DISTINGUISHED
board of arbitrator while at the same
time II Is engaged in tho prosecution
OF the case at bar. Hence II the rec
ommendation OF the president is
adopted the arbitration commission.
which should be appointed for the pur-
pose OF arbltratlng disputes in respect
20 rates. should not BIO charged with
tho executive duty OF enforcing the
provisions OF tho law or OF their own
decisions"
Governor Cummins followed Mr.
Stickney, speaking on the topic OF tho
president and the tariff
Il am protectionist born and
bred. he said, "and ! stand for the de-
Tense OF our own markets want our
producers to take them az a fair Amer.
lean price. but shall fight the duty
which compels our consumers 20 pay
more than n fair American price so
long as have voice and strength.
"The time has come when states.
manship demands that. through recIp-
rocity In some form or other, our farm
ers shall be permitted TO enter for
eign markets with their products upon
even terms with their competitors ev-
erywhere II will not satisfy them to
say that we are prosperous.
There rs one way and only ono way
to earn the gratitude and plaudlts OF
those who come after us. IL is TO re-
member that this Is and must be a gov
eminent OF the people. by the people,
for the people and that our laws must
be tested in the oruoibie OF tho com.
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