New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-22
COMPLAIN OF DELAY.
Independent Oil Refners Send Me-
mortal to Washington.

TYtusvtIle Penn Feb. 3l-The independent OIL
Rehners Association has sent letter TO the Presi
dent and Congress complaining OF delay in de-
Gliding against q number Of railroad COM
panies for discrimination, some OF which were be-
gun seventeen years ago. a chronological state
rnent is appended:
snIer 1sssGoraaint, Nos 1873 ana 154 fled be
fore the Interstate commeros Commission
January 30. isSe-CoHapains No 16S fled before the
May Is lsse-Hearins by the Interstate Commerce Com
November a. lse2-peoision by commission against rail-
October 10 isssGRehearng granted by commission
% IseoDecision By Interstate Commerce Com
May ssProcssdng Instituted by the Interstate Com,
July iss7~Decision Of the United States
declining jurisdiction OF reparation claims on its
February is0o-Question unjust discrimination sn
pending aaS At present time s.. =, 1-r.o statss
Nay rct Court on damage Gains in favor Of reAnsrs
February 1sOs-Judgments rendered by United States
May. IeoS-yudgnepts set aside by the United States
February 1s0s-on appeal United States Supreme
ebrary IsOeAter over seventeen the increased
10 obey the Interstate Commerce Commission
From 1881 10 1885 according to the letter. the rate
on refined OIL from the Pennsylvania oil region 10
New-York from IS 10 80 cents a barrel From
1885 1855 II 81 cents and in September. 1855.
was advanced TO &c cents barrel. The only reason
given by railroads for this advance is stated in
d letter written by the president of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company TO the shippers. dated
August q, 1888: The advance of rates has been
in accordance with the methods prescribed by the
Interstate Commerce Commission for charging for
the carriage of oil, and against which pro-
tested 1 regret extremely that any advance in
the rates for the transportation OF oil which has
been forced upon by the Interstate Commerce
Commission should work harshly upon your inter
ests" In November 1885 the Interstate Commerce
Commission issued statement denying that it
ordered the railroads TO increase the rates and
concluding by saying that the assumption on
which the railroad circulars GInaking the increased
rates. have been issued is well founded The
commission has made decision applicable TO the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company which would re-
ouire an advance in rates The circular is open
10 the construction that something done or said by
the commission requires or Justiies an advance in
barrel rates This 40 not the case
After the notice the former rates restored by
the New-YOrh Central Railroad L few days. but
soon advanced. The Pennsylvania Railroad did not
restore the rates all its president saying that the
views OF the commission were not shared II by the
railroad.
These rates. the letter AYERS, are still in force,
The nominal ownership Of several Of the respondent
railroads has changed hands. and these grounds
they hope 10 escape release from liability Concud-
ing the letter Of the oil men says.
The Interstate Commerce Commission has thus
been poygerless relieve this shameful situation
Themselves - 't1iosIL ,i1S 10 ttare in Judicial
States courts. Nhhl equity Is mere III JutI14aL
review delayed until the injured parties die or
their business is DESTROYED long before reheI comes.
II ever There Is nothing CON Al
cases; the foregoing Is not eJIdlced PI t
view but is a plain statement or uhtaLsIed I4ciA,
easily verified from the pubic records. IILese snip
peers nave been Jamrnec IN a dlsasifOt5 vice. I9I
and the Interstate Commerce commission a4 eilo
radical railroad advocate or hoh-lhlc IIti eILIo
It ~ now stands has given the survivors any
thing ike "a fair chance or a square deal