The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-18
LEMON SHIPPERS
FILE COMPLAINT
Suit in United States Court
Seeks to Prevent Raise
in Rates.
ASK FOR AN INJUNCTION
GROWERS SAY ROADS THREATEN
TO UNDO WORK OF CONGRESS.

Suit was filed yesterday in the United
States circuit court of this district by
fifty-eight concerns which are engaged
in the raising of lemons and other citrus
fruits in southern California against
the Southern Pacific company and other
roads and associations, seeking a writ
of Injunction to prevent the railroads
from putting into effect a proposed raise
in freight rates from that district to
various parts of the United States. 1t is
asked that writs of subpoena be issued
TO compel the various roads TO appear
and answer to the complaint 1t Is set
forth that complaint already has been
filed with the interstate commerce COM
mission. SubpOenas in equity were is
sued in the case.
The suit is brought by the Arlington
Heights Fruit company and other eX-
changes, associati tons and companies
incorporated under the laws of Califor-
mia and doing business in the southern
judicial district of that state, being the
owners of lemon groves and packing
houses, and being engaged in the ship
mcnt of lemons to various parts of the
country. Named as defendants are the
Southern Pacific company. the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway COM
pany. the San Pedro, Los Angeles &
salt Lake Railroad company and the
TranscOntinental Freight bureau. the
first three mentioned having lines ex-
tending from southern California to the
east and north, and the freight bureau
being composed of these and other rail-
road companies. The complaint is
signed by A G. Kendall, secretary of
the Citrus Protective league, agent of
the complainants interested in the case.
Encouraged Growers.
The complaint sets forth that the
railroads, through arrangements with
other carriers, have established through
routes and joint rates for the carrying
of lemons from California points to sub
stantially all points in the United States
and Canada. The compliments have
been engaged in the growing and sell
ing of lemons for many years, and it is
alleged that the railroad companies
mentioned, which are said to have a
monopoly of the carrying business, have
encouraged the growers to make extern
sive additions TO their business in the
past.
1t is alleged that, prior to Feb. II,
1905, a complaint was filed before the
interstate commerce commission by
several growing concerns to secure a
reduction in rates from s1.25 a hundred
pounds to 81 a hundred pounds in car
load lots. Before the decision was
handed down in the case. it is said that
the railroad companies voluntarily
made a reduction. II is said that sub
stantially all the lemons produced
in the United States are grown
I'm southern California. and the
total consumption of lemons in this
country in 1908 was II. 600 carloads, the
California growers furnishing less than
40 per cent. the rest coming from the
Sicilian and Italian growers. The COM
plant sets forth that congress made a
raise in the tariff on lemons to keep
alive the industry, and it is alleged that
the railroads are trying to appropriate
TO themselves the increased tariff on
lemons. 1t is alleged that they have an
nounced an increase in freight rates to
take effect on Nov. Is and Dec. 6, and it
is said the increase on lemons annually
shipped from California would be over
5000. 00O