The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-11-06
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 1907.
SHIPPERS MAY RECOVER.

Give terminal charges upon shipments
of Montana livestock is receiving the
attention of the state railroad COM
mission. The shippers of livestock
have protested against the imposition
from time to time, but without effect.
and it is hoped the efforts of the state
railroad commission will assist in Sc
curing proper redress.
The question at issue is the payment
of an excessive charge Of two dollars
per cAt, In addition to the regular
freight rate, for transferring livestock
shipments from the railroad terminals
to the Chicago stocky ards. A short
piece of track, in which the several
railroads are said to be interested,
connects their terminals with the
yards, and is known as the terminal
railroad. The extra charge for haul.
ing livestock shipments over this
piece of track has been imposed for a
great many years, and in the aggre-
gate has been az enormous expense to
shippers OF livestock.
A vigorous fight against the imposi.
ton has been made by the stockmen
of Texas and other states, and q rul.
ing or decision was given by the in.
terstate commerce commission to the
effect that a charge Of one dollar per
car is q reasonable rate for the services
rendered. The!collection Of the exces.
sive rate has continued, however, and
stockmen in all parts of the country
are said to b%e..preparing claims for a
refund Of the excessive charges they
have been compelled to pay. The &C.
ton OF the Montana railroad COM
mission in thissmatter is announced in
advices received from Helena to this
effect:
The state railroad commission, act
ing in conjunction with the interstate
commerce commission, will make an
endeavor to collect from the railroads
operating in Montana, which have
carried cattle to the eastern markets
what Is claimed to have been an over
charge of 81 a car collected by the
carriers from the shippers for several
years. The matter was taken up with
the national commission aud that
body has advised the state commits
sion to have those who paid the 81 tC
file their claims, separating those
which arose two years prior to the
going into effect of the Hepburn Law
from those which have arisen since
that law has been operative.
A member of the commission ha.
this to say about the filing OF claims
"While it cannot be stated positive
ly that the putting in of a claim viii
result in securing the refund of d 9
car, the indications are most favora
bic. With this end in view, we have
taken the matter up with Mr.. Lane Of
the interstate commerce commission
As q result of this correspondence the
etate board would advise that ship
pers of livestock to the Chicago mar
ket during recent years send to theil
commission merchants ia that city ant
get q certified account of their ship
ments to that city.
1.-The Montana board has sent t,
the interstate m commission
for a supply of blank forms, which
will be furnished on application
Then, with the information from tn
Chicago commission merchant, thes'
may be filled out. Further instruc
tons as to the procedure to be fol
lowed will be furnished by this CON
mission upon application. In thi
manner all shippers will secure tn
refund of 81 a car, provided it is OF
tainable at all, and our advices ar
that there is little doubt as to this.
"When it is considered that practt
cally all of Montana's livestock ha
been shipped to Chicago for a humble
Of years, it will be realized that thi
refund will amount to many thousand
Of dollars, which Of right belongs {
and should be restored to the shi,
pers."