Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-03
HARD STRUGGLE AHEAD

Months have elapsed since the inter-
state commerce commission gave an
order to the railroads Of the southwest
directing a 10 per cent reduction from
the existing rate of St.25 per box on all
oranges shipped eastward from South
ern California. Information from the
orange districts is 20 the effect that the
railroads have entirely ignored the or
der and that S1.25 still prevails as the
rate to New York.
Recently the Southern Pacific and
the Santa Fe roads established a rate
of 81 on all oranges shipped to Europe
by way of New York, the rate 20 pre-
vail only on presentation of the ships
manifest showing that the oranges
were actually destined for European
ports Under this arrangement about
five carloads have gone from the Red
lands and Riverside districts.
But this fact is incidental to the main
points at issue, which are that IL the
railroads can afford to ship to New
York for 81 on European destination
they can certainly afford the same
rate TO New York as final destina-
tion, and that, on the other hand, the
railroads have pooh-poohed the inter-
state commerce commission and prac-
tically denied the power Of that body
to regulate freight rates. This is the
serious point and one to which the
attention OF congress is directed.
The Riverside Enterprise reports
that Il prominent orange shipper re-
Gently addressed a letter to the prcsi-
dent calling his attention to the fact
that the railroads were ignoring the
order made by the interstate commerce
commission. In reply he received
note stating that his letter OF complaint
had been referred TO the commission
itself for action. And nothing has
been done, and apparently nothing can
be done, to enforce the commissions
order until congress shall clothe that
body with sufficient power to render
it's orders enforcible.
1t was believed at the outset of the
present session of congress that there
would be an immediate movement to
give the interstate commerce commits
sion the power necessary for it to pos
sess in order to render it body SER
viceable TO the people. But thus far
dead silence. The presidents message
hrstled with recommendations and
suggestions, all of which We're re
ferred to the proper committees" from
which entombment it is reported doubt
full whether they will soon be resur-
rected.
r, p. Bacon of Milwaukee, chairman
of the late interstate commerce law
convention, writes from Washington:
Il am impressed, from my personal
observations here since the reassem-
bling of congress, that there is danger
of this important feature of legisla-
ton being side-tracl1ed and that this
can be averted only by prompt and Wig
orous remonstrance on the part of the
commercial and industrial interests of
the country"
TO that end Mr.. Bacon suggests that
officers of all boards of trade and
chambers of commerce promptly COM
municate their wishes to the commit
tees of CONGRESSES having this proposed
legislation before them, namely, the
interstate commerce committee of the
senate and foreign commerce commit
tee of the house.
1t is evident that a hard struggle and
persistent effort must be made if any
legislation is had from congress on
the subjects of the regulation of freight
rates and the Gbolishing of discrimina-
tions. Action by all the boards ana
chambers of commerce in Southern
California should be taken at once, in
the manner suggested.