Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-07-08
Documents in Texas Cattle Complaint
Weigh ESQ Pounds.
EXPRESS CASES ARE DELAYED
Commission Will Take Them Up as
Soon as Possible.
SERVICE CHARGES ExoRB1TAN1
small shippers Pay Many Times AZ
Much for same Haul az Larger
Shippers who Have
FffY"Ae Contracts.
lFrom . stan corre.pondent.l

WASHINGTON, July 7.-(special. )-Never
before since the Interstate Commerce COM
mission was created a quarter of CEN
tury ago have the officials and employees
been so crowded with work as they are at
the present time. In other branches OF the
federal government work is Stacking of
for the summer and clerks are taking their
annual vacation by the score. But those
employed IN the department which looks
after freight rates and railroad affairs gen.
orally are compelled to work overtime in
stead. This is due to the fact that the new
rate law ie in full operation and besides II
has been found that a great many import
ant contests OF shippers against railroads
depend upon the proper filing OF all papers
bearing upon the cases before the end of
August.
During the last few days there have been
enormous masses of documents carted into
the offloes Of the commission. In one case
alone. that OF the Cattle Raisers' associa-
tion Of Texas against various railway com
panles, the exhibits" numbered many
thousand papers, the total weight Of which
was upwards Of $50 pounds There have
been so many OF these big cases against
the railroads to occupy the attention OF the
commission and its employees that no time
has yet been found to take up the questions
relating 20 fair and equitable rates charged
by the express and sleeping car companies
Hut as soon as those corporations have had
time to prepare and file their schedules of
tariffs II is likely that something will be
heard TO drop"
High Rate of Express Companies.
Everyone who does business with the ex-
press and sleeping car corporations appears
TO have a grievance which he will air as
soon as the commission Is ready It is we'll
understood that there is nothing fair or
equitable shout the rates charged by the
e9Dress companies, and the fact that one
Ct those corporations has recently paid a
dividend OF 200 per cent to it's stockholders
is evidence In itself that congress acted
none too soon In giving the Interstate Com
merce commission jurisdiction over the ex-
press rates, The trouble Is. however, that
the small shipper is the greatest sufferer.
He is overcharged on every possible occa-.
eion and the companies seem to conduct
their business upon the theory that the man
who is overcharged a fraction OF q dollar
has neither the time nor the means to take
the necessary step TO secure redress. Every
express company IN the country makes spe-
cial rates to certain favored shippers, and
II Ia this discrimination which will first re-
ceive the attention of the commission Some
Of these unfair rates have already been
called to the attention OF the commission
unomeially. case in point is that of
man OF this city who last week received
small parcel by express from New York.
1t had been dispatched by a firm having a
special contract with the express company,
whAah DsSpAid the charges to washington
LaoSo charges were fifteen Q5) cents The
recipient carried the package in a trunk to
small town In the interior OF the state
and from there shipped II to a point twelve
miles distant. He was compelled to pay 80
cents this time, or exactly twice as much
for transporting a package a distance OF
twelve miles as the more fortunate firm in
New York paid for the transport OF the
same package 2S6 miles. or nearly twenty
times as far
This IL only an insignificant incident,
but the commission is determined that
Inequalities Of this character shall be cor
rected and It is also equally determined
that the seeping car companies shall re-
wise their rates so a to assure the travel
ing public equal charges for equal ser-
vices, which II is not the practice OF the
companies to accord It's patrons at pres
Snt.
Charges of Undertakeru.
II you are a sailor sailing under the
stars and stripes and happen to die any
where in the United States Uncle Sam
will bury you. But II you are really
truly patriot you will naturally want to
save as much expense as you can to your
Uncle Samuel With this end in view.
write 20 the secretary of the treasury for
copy OF circular No. IS. volume l8. Ia
sued on Thursday, June q. 1907 In look
Ing through that pamphlet you will find
that this great republic has made con-
tracts IN nearly every city on or near the
seaoOast. the naviEable rivers ana the
~ Il.a
sick and disabled seamen as we'll as for
the burial OF those who die. Being anxious
TO save money for the government you
win read with great interest the price
list OF funerals Ia these various cities
II you happen 10 have had at any time
In the past a friend who died while on a
visit 70 Florida, you viii perhaps recall
that his surviving relatives kicked like
brinde steers over the alleged extortion
OF the undertakers IN the cities OF Florida
Under those circumstances you win nearly
faint with astonshment to discover that
the secretary OF the treasury announces
with pardonable prlde) that he has made
contract with Charles A. Clarke Gin.
eorPoratedl to provide for the burial OF
deceased patients at S each" Charles A
Clark CncorporatedD is an undertaken OF
funeral director IN Jacksonville But 4,
is not only IN Jacksonville that Uncle
sam lin the person of Jimmy" Rsy.
nolds. assistant secretary OF the treas.
ury) has made y corSing good bargain
IN Los Angeles Cal. Pierce Broa. a Co
nave eontraetot bury deceased patients
trom the M0rrc hospital at S6B each
IN Key West, Fla., b. p. Baker charles
only Is cents more than his fellow crafts
men In Jacksonville, c. a W. Frazier o,
H'snitowoe' Wis, win look sad and do a
eeeent Job at ST. while the HaEer Bros
20 umited)' Just few miles away Al
harquette Mich, charge 50 per. In sar
Juan +. r.. DordAly Mesa are under con.
tract Al 80 each That is also the rate