Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-13
PROTEST OF FRUIT GROWERS
CaIifOrnians Demand Regulation of
Commerce as Intended by the
Federal Constitution.

The California Fruit Growers exchange,
represented in Omaha by G. A. Charters
general western agent, with offices in the
Pacific Express company building, has
passed resolutions as to the control by
the federal government OF railroad rates
and private car lines These resolutions
were telegraphed from Los Angeles to
President Roosevelt. A,he exchange repre-
sents over 5000 citrus fruit growers, ship
ping more than 1900 cars of citrus fruit
yearly and paying nearly $6,OOO,OOO in freight
and refrigeration charges annually. The
resolution reads:
Resolved, That the decision of the SUI
preme court of the United States, rem
dered on the 26th day of February, 1906,
in the citrus fruit cases, gives to the rail-
ways the exclusive control of routing OF
freight. and thereby, in effect, gives legal
sanction to a freight pool, effectuated by
means of a division of freight over differ
ent lines.
Our records show that during the period
the railroads controlled the routing COM
petition was eliminated, and our fruit was
from two to six days longer in transit
than when we routed our shipments our
selves causing us losses by decay in
hundreds OF instances of from $lOO to $500
per car.
The decision is the last of a series OF
decisions by that court in and by which
the entire control OF commerce and of
rates has been denied to the Interstate
Commerce commission, and the public
authorities, and vested In the railways.
BY these decisions the present interstate
commerce act has become tumble of
meaningless words
The power OF the railways in the control
and regulation OF commerce is now equiya-
upon all the industries, property and peo-
pie of the country.
Such construction of the laws and linn
itation OF public rights 10, their local APP
plication to us places us and our business
and property utterly a. the mercy of the
railways.
We demand that the regulation OF COM
merce be resumed by congress, as intended
and required by the federal constitution,
| and that the further act to regulate COM
merce shall distinctly empower the Inter-
state Commerce commission to supervise
and establish reasonable rates, rules and
| practices relating to interstate transporta-
| ton and commerce, and all agencies con-
nected Herewith. including the express
business, cars operated under contract and
| telegraphs, whenever and wherever exist
! ing rates, rules and practices relating
| thereto are found to be unreasonable OF
unjust, and which orders and regulations
| shall not be set aside or suspended except
| by final decree OF a United States court
| upon constitutional grounds.
That the Interstate Commerce commits
sion be expressly authorized to establish
through rates and through routes ovel
| connecting lines engaged in interstate
| transportation. and that shippers be ex-
! pressly authorized to secure and designate
| such transportation over and upon any
such lines upon the paying OF the estab
| l!shed rates.
That the act should also provide that
any person complaining of any unjust Of
! unreasonable rate, rule or practice, OF
claiming damages arising out of any in
terstate transportation may. az his option
sue therefor In any United States cOur
! In the district or place where the de
/ PENDANT may be found or may be doini
L business.
! II is our firm conviction that II Law
! substantially embodying the essential pro
| visions for railway control cannot by rea
| son of adverse railway influence be passed
! without unreasonable delay, the country
! will be driven to utterly abolish private
| ownership in railways and government
| ownership will be the inevitable result
| CALIFORNIA FRUIT GROWERS Elk
| CHANGE.
f. Q. STORY, President
b. A. WOODFORD. Secretary.