Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-05-04
COMMERCE BOARD
ASKS FOR A Writ
Demands That Railroads Be
Forced to Obey Its Re-
cent Order
AS TO LIVE STOCK RATES
Allegation Is That Present Adjustment.
Of Tariffs on Live and Dressed
Meats Is inequitabIe, That
Railroads Won't Obey.

Chicago, May 3.-An injunction to re-
strain the Chicago Great Western and
seventeen other railroads from maxi
ing discrimination in prices between
shipment of cattle and shipment of
meat to Chicago was asked OF the
United States court Saturday by Dis
trict Attorney Morrison.
The petition Is based on a recent de-
cision of the interstate commerce COM
omission in the case brought by the Chi
cago live stock exchange. Being UNI
able to enforce its decision the inter-
state commerce commission appealed to
District Attorney Morrison and he
filed the petition for an injunction. The
petition was submitted to Judge kene-
saw NJ. Lands and he ordered that the
defendants be served with copies of the
complaint and make answer by June L.
Complaint Made Year Ago.
On April 8, 1904, the Chicago live
stock exchange filed a complaint
against the railroad companies, alleg-
ing that the rates charged by the de-
PENDANT companies. carriers of live
stock in carload lots from points in
Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin to Chicago. as compared with the
rates charged on the products of live
stock, We're unjust and unreasonable.
and that the raisers of stock were sub
ject to an undue and unreasonable
prejudice and disadvantage by reason
of the rate charged for the shipment of
product of live stock from Kansas city,
South ST. Joseph. South Omaha, Sioux
City and South ST. Paul to Chicago ana
points east
On this complaint the commission on
January I, 1905, ruled against the rail-
roads. The decision declared that the
defendant railroads exacted higher
rates for transporting live stock prod
ucts to Chicago from points west,
northwest and southwest.
Discrimination Hurts Business.
The commission declares that such
discrimination is not justified by the
difference in cost of transportation or
other reasons and subjects the traffic
in cattle and hogs at Chicago and 9th
err places and those interested therein
to undue and unreasonable prejudice
and disadvantage and gives to the traf-
fic in the product of hogs and cattle
and the shippers and localities inter-
.ested in such traffic undue and unreal
sonable preference. The railroads are
said to have disregarded this decision.
and the rates remained as before.
The railroads named in the bill aside
from the Great Western are:
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and North
ern.
Chicago, St. Paul. Minneapolis and
O.naha.
Chicago and Alton.
Chicago and Northwestern.
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.
Chicago, milwaukee and st. Paul.
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific.
Hannibal and st. Joseph.
Illinois Central
Kansas City. st. Joseph and Council
Bluffs.
Minneapolis and St. Louis.
Missouri Pacific.
Missouri Kansas and Texas.
Omaha, Kansas City and Eastern.
Wabash.
Wisconsin Central.
Prayer of the Bill.
After setting forth the proceedings
before the interstate coinmeme COM
mission and its findings the i'll recites
the following prayer:
THAT on final hearing hereof a de-
free may be entered granting to the
complainant writ of injunction to re-
strain the defendants from further con-
tinuing in their violation of and dis
obedience to the said order of the COM
plainant the Interstate commerce COM
mission.
THAT the decree may be entered re-
ruiring said defendants to pay such a
slm of money not exceeding $500 for
,very day after a day to be named in
tuch decree. that they shall respective-
iy fail to obey the injunction."