The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-01-17

7CHicaro They terminate II Doltou. from which
noint entrance IS made over the Belt Line
Whiting, where the oil freight origutztes.sis not
on the lines of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois,
which receives its Whiting freight from the Belt
Line at Dolton. The former practice, now dis
continued, in fling tariffs was to make them
read from point on the line of the filing road.
and It was also general to state on the same
sheet. that the tariff would apply TO other points.
e. q, Whiting. The Chicago and Eastern Illinois
followed this practice in filing its rate from
Dolton, aud making note on the shect,that II
applied to Whiting This was in 1895 when this
method OF fling tariffs was in common use.
Now let us see in what way the intending
shipper Of oil could be mislcd and deceived by
the fact that the Chicago and Eastern Illinois
had not filed rate reading from Whiting.
Commissioner Smith contends that "concealment
is the only motive for such circuitous arrange
nent" i. G.. that this method of fling the rate
was intended to mislead intending competitors
of the Standard Oil Company. Suppose such
prospective oil Tchncr had applied TO the inter
state Commerce Commission for the rate from
Chicago to East St LOWS over the Chicago and
Eastern Illinois. he would have been informed
that tho only rate filed with the commission by
this company was 6A ccnts from Doltnu. and
he would have been further informed. If indeed
he did not know this already. that this rate ap-
plied throughout Chicago territory. So that
whether he wished to locate his plant at Whit
ing. or anywhere else about Chica"o. under an
arrangement Of long standing. and which 1nplics
IN all the industrial towns in the neighborhood
of Chicago. he could have his freight delivered
over the Belt Line to the chictgo and Eastern
Illinois at Dolton and transported &c East St.
Iouis at rate of 81 cents Where then is
the concealncnt which the Commissioner OF Cor
norations makes so much OFF Any rate-from
Dolton on the Eastern Illirois or ChapDcl on
the Alton, or Harvey on the Illinois Central or
Bluc Island on the Rock Island. applies through
orr Chicago territory to shipments from Whit
ing. MS to shipments from any other point in
the district. So far from the Eastern Illinois
filing its rate from Doton in order 10 deceive
the simmer. il is the Commissioner Of Corpora
lions who either bctrays his gross Ignorance OF
TRANSFORMATION customs in Cliic7go territory or
relics on tho public ignorance OF these customs
ia deceive the public too apt 10 accept unqucS-
tioninCly every statement made by Govern
mcnt official as necessarily true. ALTHOUGH, as in
the present instance careful examination shows
these statements TO be false
The final point made by President Monctt that
other commodities OF a character similar TO OIL
were carried at much lower rates than Is cents.
the Commissioner OF Corporations discusses only
with the remark that "the 'reasonablencss' OF
this rate is not in question The question IS
whether this rate constituted discrimination
as against other shippers OF OIL and he also
makes much of the failure of President Motfett
10 produce before the grand jury evidence OF the
alleged illegal acts Of which the Standard OIL
official said that other large shippers in the ter