New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-08
DELWNG into FAVOR|T|SM
U. S. Attorney Has Many CON-
plants to Frame Case.
LOADED UP WITH FACTS
Rights OF Railroads to Charge
Two Rates Will Be Tested
in the Courts.

There v-as keen interest among manu-
facturers in this city yesterday regard
ing the exclusive report IN The Tribune
thar the United States Attorneys office
had taken up for investigation and ac-
tion complaints regarding the discrini-
nation Of railroads against American in
:erests In freight rates on imports
There viii no lack Of individual COM
plainants. and hence Of evidence.
Assuming a condition as favorable
as possible 10 American manufacturers"
an agent OF a large concern said yes
terday. the foreign interest has the ad-
vantage because OF the low import rates.
Assuming that the cost ~ materials
here and abroad is the same. and the
cost % manufacture here and abroad is
the same. and the tariff moderate, the
low ocean and railroad freight 10 des-
tination enables the foreign manufaCt-
urer TO underseil the American manu-
facturer compelled TO ship 20 the in
terror
The import rate sheets from this and
other ports TO the interior are filed with
the Interstate Commerce Commission
The through freight rates from place
% foreign manufacture are not. The
former show a vast difference. as COM
Pared with the regular classified rates,
in favor Of the foreign shipper and
manufacturer.
The United States Attorney has the
import rate sheets. and in the recent
Investigation under the Elkins act. in
which the books OF resident agents Of
steamship companies were examined,
obtained facts regarding through rates
that win he indispensable in the invest
tigation.
Rates Nullifed Protection.
According TO a government Official, the
advantage q the foreign business in
terests is almost unbelievable. II multi
fed many tariffs which were levied 10
protect the home industries. and where
the rate was ~ per cent. seemingly a
prohibitive rate. the cheap labor abroad,
with the low freight charges, made sue
cessful competition in the interior states
possible. u was explained yesterday in
answer 70 inquiries that the present in
vestigation would be on entirely new
lines.
In former cases. a federal official
said. "a different principle was at stake.
The attack on the steamship pool. which
was defeated by the .upreme Court. was
against g foreign interest that could not
be controlled under our laws. The more
recent successful procedure was because
81 Relating There is no rehating in the
case under consideration. II is a mat
ter Of discrimination. and it will be
tested in the courts until the right Of
railroads 10 charge two rates. one TO the
foreign manufacturer and one 20 the do
mestic. is settled. The courts have juris-
oiction in this case"
An analysis az the present condition
was made by manufacturer with Of
fees in Wall street. He said that the
railroads In the FIRST instance made the
low rate for train lots. THIS meant for
twenty carloads or more. Chemicals,
pottery. chinawsre. woodenware. bags
and bagging and Oriental materials were
shipped in that way. IL was an advan-
tage which the big shipper in this coun-
try might he expected 10 enjoy. but he
never obtained as low a rate as the
foreigner. From the train lot differ
ence was made for car lots. From the
cheap goods the step 10 the more costly
imports was easy.
Port Of Entry Com petition.
Il was pointed out that the present
discrimination against the domestic pro-
Queer was due In a degree to the COM