Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-05-01
IS
AFTER ROADS ON
REBATE CHARGES

CLEVELAND, Ohio, May lin a
statement issued today by the Railroad
Transportation brotherhood, attention
was directed to the practice of rail
roads in granting rebates to shippers,
hauling private cars, etc.
If the railroads are really sincere in
desiring to conserve their revenue, a
recent report of the Interstate Com
uerce Commission, shows the roads
how they would save millions of dol
lars which they lose through practice
Of hauling private cars and the grant
irg of rebates.
This is important in connection with
| he highly exaggerated estimates which
the railways are handing out to the
public as to the cost to the carriers o.
tie adoption of the eight-hour work
day in freight train service.
It is commonly supposed that the
practice of rebating has been brought
to an end, but the records of fines i'm
posed upon the railroads show that
this unlawful practice has not yet been
Put stop to. Not only do the rail
roads lose revenue by granting rebates
but the fines which are imposed by
the courts when rebate cases are de-
tected are very considerable. 1t reas-
enable to suppose that only a small
percentage of the actual rebating is
discovered by the authorities.
These cases of rebating and unlaw-
ful concessions and determinations are
not confined to any particular section
Of the country or to any special group
Of railroads and in different sections.
In 1916 the fines imposed upon the
carriers amounted to $234,0OO, the fol-
lowing railroads being convicted by
the courts: Central Railroad of New
Jersey, Chicago, Terre Haute & South
eastern, Grand Trunk, Louisville &
Nashville, Michigan Central, Missouri
Kansas & Texas and the Sierra Rail
way.
Commenting upon the unnecessary
expenses attending the infraction OF
the laws directly connected with In
terstate Commerce, the Federal Com
mission in it's report in the 5 per cent
case rendered last year, states that
these expenses should be avoided. This
report says that the railroads in official
classification territory alone have
PS'AA SiAAN0 DSS0AlOSI Isl, 19UJy III the
aggregate $814135 in forfietures and
fines, the larger part of which repre-
sent penalties and for rebating. One
system alone has paid penalties ag-
gregating $335,1S5 If this one source
of depletion of railway revenues were
dried up by a cessation of the multi
farious methods through which fav~
oritism is shown certain shippers, it is
suggested to railway officials who are
opposing the gronting of an eight-hour
day to their freight train employees,
that there will be more revenue in
the treasurers of the companies with
which to meet the slight INCREASE in
cost.
Free transportation of private cars
is an abuse for which there is little
justification.
Tables prepared by the commission
show that the revenue from private
cars handled free during the year 1913
on only SO roads would at tariff rates.
have been $644,25O.79. It is natural
that subordinates should be wasteful
when their superiors are extravaganza
and that efforts to secure economies
should often prove futile when at the
expense of the stockholders or public.
the luxury of a private car is freely
granted for personal and private use,