The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-15
I0F TUS DECLARES
ROADS ARE PARTIAL
Says His Concern Does Not
Get Bepefit Of Cut Tariff
Rates

George S. LoftuS an elevator man of
this city, made sensational charges yes
! terday against all the representative
railroads centering in st. Paul. He al.
rleged that the roads have in operation a
system of rebates to favored shippers
| which works hardship on the small
shippers. He includes practically every
| road running into St Paul in his list of
alleged offenders and cites number of
instances where he says the law has been
! violated
| He declares that the Omaha, Milwau-
| kee Great Northern, Great Western,
Northern Pacific and Wisconsin Central
are involved and outlines one instance in
which he says that big elevator con-
lscefn doing business all over the North
west was able to buy grain from his con-
Germ in this city. ship it to Duluth and
resell it to him at the head of the lakes
| at profit Mr.. LOTUS said that this
was too much for him and he was going
10 equallze matters or see that the law.
| was obeyed as far as the maintenance
OF tariff rates was concerned.
lie charges that the Great Northern
IN this Instance by a secret system of
rebates has made it possible for this
state OF facts to exist
General Freight Agent w. w. Brough-
ton, OF the Great Northern, declares that
the road has done nothing Illegal and
nothing that would discredit 1t in case
the matter is brought to hearing before
the interstate commerce commission.
He said yesterday that he had not
carefully investigated the charges made
! by Mr.. LOTUS and so was not in q posi
ton to make an authoritative state.
ment
Before the newspaper charges were
made by Mr.. LOTUS the position of ]. J.
HllI president of the Great Northern.
was clearly marked out in an interview
or IxrN ~. u
| cago papers. In the interview Mr.. Hill
IS reported to have said:
VIII not only not oppose but will
| welcome any legislation that will sion
every single railroad rebate and know of
NO NO ralfoad an ,a man in this country who viii
railroad evil of the hour and fhe one
problem that needs immediate Ieeislation
1r paaner a1, I more stringent legislation than
IN the course of his interview. Mr.
Loftus alleged that practically all of the
| ieadlng railroads of the Northwest were
involved. He declared that the tariff on
grain to the head of the lakes was cut in
eWo LOT some favored. concerns. the differ
ence between the amount of the tariff
rate and the amount paid by these shin
pefs being credited back to the shippers
as elevator charges. He saws that tbe
grain so shipped is not subject to any
such credit He declares that if the his
elevator concerns are allowed th;s s1na olg -
d :, ,S drawback his concern ought to have it
also. He alleges that trust made goods
ise n;sna a10Wed IoI Tree storage at the Terminal
charged at the rate of s5 a car upon re-
consignment. gg He also states that Swift
q Soryt;o 30; are preferred in the matter of alb
Sofption OF switching charges and other
III nfInS IS are made to pay the published rate
OF 81 90 for the service for every car
In particular he said:
"a most striking instance of rebating
came to light in the fight between the
Milwaukee and Wisconsin Central fiuriny
october and November. -
Inc WISCONSIN Central began moving a
sIliipmehl OF z5e ears of coarse grain from
! me Armour elevator in Chicago to Min
neapolis and st. Paul The elevator in
question is on the Milwaukee, and that
road was much put out at losing the busi-
ness The Wisconsin carried the shin
ment at tariff rates of 121s cents a hun
orsd Tbe ana MiRpa repated the charge cents.
earnest at this juncture and hauled less
than nifty cars in lump at the reduced
rate, although the bill made the charge
equal the tariff rates.
Mr.. Lotus takes strong execution tn
the action of the Great Western in the
matter of switching charges. He says that
the recent tariff Of the road providing for
fiat charge of $5 a car for sWitchine nm
the West side is a palpably unfair ar
rrangement ra because, he. says. the charge
for similar service to the east side firms
is only half as much, while In Mime
apolis the cars are handled for 81 each
He declares that these rates are strongly
dIscriminatiye against the interests of fhes
business men of st. Paul.
f. The matter of the difference in SWITCH
ing charges will be brought before the
state railway commission next Wednes-
Referring to the switching charges S. G.
Stickney, of the Great Western. said:
"dr. LOTUS has lately been elected to
the Commercial club or something of 1tlne