Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-15
RAILROADS SUMMONED
CHARGED WITH GIVING REBATES
ON COMMODITIES.

The Interstate commerce commission to-
day issued six summons to as many rail-
road companies doing business in the south
west section OF the country, instructing
them to make answer to charges of giving
rebates In the matter OF rates on fruit and
vegetables. The summons were made re-
turnabie September 5, and were directed to
the Following: Atchison Topeka and Santa
Fee railroad and the Santa Fe Refrigerator
Dispatch Company. st. Louis Iron Mountain
and Southern railway and the American
Refrigerator Transit Company the St.
LOUIS and San Francisco railroad and the
armour car lines Kansas City Southern and
the Armour car lines Southern Pacific and
the Armour car lines.
A summons. returnable September 8, was
also issued against the Pennsylvania rail-
Coast Line and the Armour car lines, on
charges or rebates in transporting fruit and
vegetables from the southeastern states to
New York city
1t is charged that by way of rebates or
other devices the refrigerator lines are
acting Tor the railroads as authorized agents
and the railroads. acting through the refrig-
orator lines. are collecting and receiving
TOT the refrigeation of fruit and vegetables
lower rates from some shippers than they
are contemporaneously receiving for sim
liar service rendered to other shippers This
is ne!d TO be In violation of sections and
) OF the act to regulate Interstate commerce
another charge Is that failure and neg
lect to publish at shipping stations and
nle with the interstate commerce commits
sion the rates and charges imposed for the
refrigeration OF fruits and vegetables, con-
st1tutes violation of section @ of the In
terstate commerce act.
Charges Unreasonable.
The commission alleges further that the
charges published jointly by the refrigera-
tor lines and the railroads for the refriR-
Grating of fruits In certain specified terri
tories are unreasonable and unjust and in
violation Of section l. The territories de-
scribed are Missouri Arkansas. Indian Ter
ritory, Texas, California to eastern points.
Louisiana and Kansas and Georgia, South
carolina and North Carolina to New York
Complaints against the private car lines
extend over the entire life of the first act
10 regulate Interstate commerce and all acts
amendatory thereto Hearings have been
had in various sections of the country and
not infrequently have changes In the
schedules been made for the announced
purpose of remedying alleged abuses Com
binations of railroads and private car lines
nave prevented any wholesale regulation of
THESE rates. Charges of discrimina tons
against small shippers have poured in on
the commission for number of years
Inc matter has been made the subject of
investigation by congressional committees
ana several laws have been passed giving
Increased powers to the commission In an
enort to reach alleged combinations said
to be prohibitive of the small shipper en-
tering into competition with shippers leas-
ing by the year large numbers of private
cars.
The action taken by the interstate COM
merce commission now indicates belief
that certain cases set forth in the proceed
ings can be reached under the present laws
In any event the proceedings are looked
upon as test, and 1t Is declared they will
prove Of inestimable value in informing
Congress what new laws are needed for
national control Of private car lines where
combinations are made with railroads
which affect the freight and refrigeration
schedule