New-York tribune., 1906-05-05

completely from other markets Il is accomplished
which apply only 20 petroleum and its products
The true principie OF commodity rate making IS
20 more nearly equalize competitive conditions, but
been E 10 give the Standard relatively much lower
rates 70 common markets than those given TO its
For instance. IN shipments to New Orleans and
the Cs;sIf the ordinary class rates On similar low
grade articles from Toledo Cleveland and FS5s
The commodity rates on oil are 9E9m gs % SeaS oTo 70
MAI prfncipie OF commodity rates would make the
charge the same from all four Of these points. in
Prior 20 the establishment OF the WHITING refinery
the railroads West M ST ~ 1ne AssisS1pp & ne Pnn
syvania and Ohio districts Into most parts of the
we ssS vn sna Tsery hee roads refused 70 proate
from points east Of Whiting This refusal increased
from 70 1875 cents per hundred pounds This dis
81 the southwestern railroads because they do
Louis on oil from Whiting.
CHANGES FOLLOW INVESTIGATION.
Most Of the secret rates and some OF the open
determinations discovered by the bureau were
abolished by the railroads shortly after such dis
covery The more important changes thus far
noted are follows:
First-Tne secret rate OF cents per barrel from
olean 20 Rochester and 10 cents per barrel from
Olean 70 Buffalo has been changed 20 an open rate
Of % cents per barrel Rochester and q cents per
barrel 20 Buffalo on shipments of all refined OF
has. been discontinued by the Pennsylvania Rail-
second-The low tank car rates made by. the Rut-
land Railroad from NorWood 60 BprlingtOns Rut-
lend and Bellows Fans W.T. have been made ap-
Third-Ths cancellation. OF the secret rate from
thTee-fouEths the sta1d9rd's advantage over com
on shipments into a large part Of the South. IN
stead OF II 10 cents the dlerental against them
disadvaHtage adv Of competing TefneFs OF Western
Pennsylvania has been corresPondingly reduced
Whiting to Evansville win reduce the Standards
shipments into many other parts OF the South from
about GA cents to Sh cents per hundred pounds
over competitors in Cleveland Pittsburg and other
independent refining points has been corresponding
B1fthEThe cancellation Of the secret rates from
Sd fa S 6 e s st. Wiz hHus redHea aRs s shs
vantage from IL cents to cents per hundred
vantage over more easterly refining points.
lished rates from Whiting into Northern indiana
and Michigan by about or cents per hundred
Equality, distance considered red with those from
Toledo and more eesteriy points.
ford Railroad has resumed the practice OF pro-
charge to independent rehners Of Western Pennsyl-
Tania and Ohio on shipments Into large part OF
a60pt 9snts % Pe5 100 PSTnas o This T mst9Ee ate. b
STANDARD OH Company in that territory. The in.
terstate Commerce Commission recently denounced
Eighth-A large number Of the secret rates of
California railroads have been published as open
rates. While under the contract system OF selling
fuel oil generally employed In that region the con-
beneft from the this tsio Of tSiS oVlos I
operates to the benefit Of independent shippers on
open rates on the Pacific Coast have also been ad-
The changes above described. with others OF less
r mean e. much ISd than the Ss S Of
striking fashion the good which has already re-
suited from this investigation. They put inde-
tition possible in territories heretofore inaccessible
DISADVANTAGES OF INDEPENDENTS
Nevertheless. the Widespread determinations in
open rates sti in force leave the independents at
serious disadvantage. The investigation has only
incidentally touched state shipments from distrib-
uting centres, particularly IN less than carloads
The few instances examined suggest the probable
ity Of Determinations such shipments which,
taken in connection with through trafFlc may re-
suit In discr1minations on interstate business.
have cited these particular instances 20 show the
various methods by which determinations are OBJ
WHICH, Il legal are mere DEVICES to Obtain az aSty
as % SANE @ se 9S XSGd Be $ 0btsns& R rebates
on whether IL be state interstate. tends to give
MAKES monopoly possible EXISTING IaR%P nefeS S3&
prohibits special device for obtaining discrirnina
plished in different way, then the legislation is to
This Investigation has shown very clearly one
glaring defect IN the Interstate Commerce law viz.
thoug far n rae fS as been dd s b bo A
commission in compliance with the terms OF the
law, none but the favored shipper may know Of IT'S
existence. Tariffs may be made and rates may be
combined in such manner as to make It practically
impossible for the ordinary shipper to ind them.
made public, and shippers use such rates IN com
blnaton with Interstate rates all manner Of devices
to evade the purpose of the law axe possible. All
state rates used in connection with .interstate
shipments SHOULD be fled with the Interstate Com
merce Commission and a radical change should be
made In the direction Of simplifying tariffs and
in methods OF posting and fling them. Very re-
spectfully, JAMES RUDOLPH GARFIELD,
Commissioners OF Corporations.
The President.