Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-27
Adverse Decision in CITRUS
Fruit" Cases, Affects Sioux
City Dealers
NO POWER TO RESTRICT RATES
Decision in Favor Of the Railroads Con-
firms Hon. j. II. Calls Declaration
That There Does Not Exist in the
United States Today, Any Power in
Law to Restrict Railway Rate.
Special to Times-Republica,l

Special to Times-Republican-
Sioux City, Feb. 27.-The decision
of the United States supreme court
Monday in the citrus fruit" cases is
of considerable Importance to Sioux
City Incidentally it confirms an inter-
view given to the local papers last fall
by Hon. j. H. Call in which he de-
clared there was no power in the law
to restrict railway rate. He said:
Il want to impress upon you that
there does not exist in the United
States today any power in the law to
restrict a railway rate. want to state
to you that there is mo power in the
supreme court and no power in the
law which will prevent the railways
from dong as they please in regard
to rates and routing. No difference
what the railway rate may be, it can
not be reduced by the Interstate Com
merce commission Of today. It cannot
be reduced by the commission and by
the courts together, nor can it be re-
duced by any authority in the United
States government That power is alb
solutely vested in the railways today,
aQd the only recourse which the peo-
pie Of this country have is to recover
excessive overcharges in the courts.
But by the time the fruit dealers of Cal
ifornia could do this thru the courts.
it would cost them $5,000.000 in excess
sive rates which they may and may
not get back"
That Hon. Joseph H. Call, brother
of A. F. and George c. Call Of Sioux
City was thoroughly familiar with the
situation between the people and the
railways when he gave the above
statement last fall, was proven when
word was received in Sioux City that
the suits known as the "citrus fruit
cases" brought by Mr. Call against the
Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Rail-
road companies were decided by the
supreme court in favor Of the railroad
companies.
Mr.. Call is attorney for the Inter-
state Commerce commission and the
Southern California Fruit Growers as
ISOLATION in the cases against the rail-
road companies.
The decision Of the supreme court
defeats one of the most important suits
ever taken up by Mr.. Call. 1t will
greatly affect the Sioux City markets
and the Twin City market, as well as
other points on the Missouri river and
in the east.
How They Switch Cars.
The Southern Pacific Railroad COM
pany and the Santa Fe Railroad COM
pany are in the habit of exchanging
cars Of fruit designed for Sioux City
and other points, with the companies
giving them west bound traffic. In
this way many cars arrive in Sioux
City by way of New Orleans, st. Louis,
Chicago, Memphis, and every other out
of the way place. The fruit is many
times damaged, and the Icing" charges
increased. Delays are experienced and
is enormous as result of the arbitrary
routing of the traffic departments.
Another contention of Mr.. Calls was
that If lemons, citrus fruit, could be
shipped ito Missouri river points for 81
per 100 pounds. oranges, a like citrus
| fruit, should be given the same rate
instead of charging $1.25 per 100 for
them.
Loss to Consumers.
The supreme court has ruled In favor
of President Ripley and against the
fruit growers and fruit dealers. Mr..
Call has lost one Of the most impor-
tant suits ever brought before the SUI
preme court, and which would have
been Of great benefit to the consumers.
But his interview is corroborated,
when he declared "the actual control
of interstate commerce in the United
States is not in the hands of the peo-
pie, the congress or the interstate COM
merce commission; that it is not in the
hands of any bureau, department or
officer of the United States, but in
the control of less than half dozen
corporations, and these half dozen
corporations are manipulated and con-
trolled by less than a dozen men; that
these less than twelve men possess the
vast power to regulate the commerce
Of the United States which was con-
ferred upon congress by the makers
of the constitution, political power