| Show INTERIOR i IS CRITICiSm t t Comptroller CO of the Treasury In a L Decision Says Severe Things About him ui I CONCERNS ACCEPTING REBATES Government Above Aboc All MI Others Should i Not be lie Party Parly l to 0 Violation of Inter Commerce loW law April 10 comp comptroller i of ot the th has rendered n In which hll tha proposed J ro q c notion of ot the of ot tho thu Interior lor In tI accepting rebates from tim tho on freight ot uC I contractor In hi work walk In the tha thaw I w vest esl st under tho and act net In ii i u to 10 the comptroller on Ol 20 U leNt laMI t the eec 1111 ec ot the tho Interior I On Oct 13 IS 1904 department up Lp I p proved u a with the thus Southern Pacific company providing till fur concessions to Under tho I not net In thu tha freight on their plant luul materials to In i and from tho tim work on tin thu tha Other ot of character r Inco have been heen with tho thu principal These concessions In rules ratel are uro brought to tho attention of ot nil on the work of at tho reciA erico In iii that they muy moy make duo allowance for tur tICh Huch conces conoe In IH ld Th The Tue intention of Jt hilA b been en oiled to u IL t request of ot Sheerer A Co on In the Halt river project who to b bt be v whether they URn Inn obtain the of oC on nomo eoon 1100 to I be ho made by U them Timie contractors limit tho It bid before any concession hud hini been beon nr or orr r with the Southern Bouthern Pacific com puny ao o their bids bide 10 do not nol provide for tor ony to the United Stilton and thin linn hUll Iun decided the contractor Is le not entitled to such benefits The communication goes noes on to state that the railroad however In Is I willing to make Inoke tho concession to i h tho the work on tim tha project an tie much us III possible In case cace the of ot the tho contention of ot rates on theo theno the o may be bo taken by the tho government and d to the tho th project The Hi in the tho course courte of ot his itie reply ayi la laIt If It I may tim bo hO permitted to express an Un opinion nit aft to the legality of ot such nuch trans when In relation to sections 2 and ss 2 of ot thu tho Interstate com corn commerce merce moree of ot Fob 4 1887 and RIll ISSO 1 I would say MY It Ills Is le extremely doubtful It If either cnn can be maintained By what authority he h government can clin contract with a n railroad that A 1 contractors plant shall ehli receive a rebate In freights not applicable to othor other shippers In III i my It If this thie right exists It might ml na ne well extend to lour flour hay hayand hayand and commodities and tho the vehicles doe cles used bv b a i 1 contractor In do lu livery to the government Hut grant Brant uch rights righta when covered Cot red by contract and Ind such each rebate taken Into Inlo consideration when the contract is i imade made by what chat of at authority can nn tho the government step Mop In whore where the tha con contract contract tract between It ami the tho contractor tor has hasen ua been en enter into and mul the amount to be bo Idd for or tho work or let for the work woth and the materials la le fixed and u i hail and taken from the rebate Is III be beyond yond my Tha ihie government above all III other should not irnI bo be a ii party to a Q ii violation of ot either the letter or spirit of ot tho the Inter Intercom com me ITU u act MM iu regard tho question of or f rebates rebate It should not lit lii iuen In lit order that n it 1 of ut a 11 fow tew ow dollars unity be lie had especially Ilp lully when who II thin ro In III the down inWil of lf u a I law which ex u proven Is ls very 01 It If not Impossible to enforce harer Thit Th liui Interior department Iu to this thie letter litter on the tho t or f their action and stating thAt the thu rebates in question probably wo to in the next seven Mrs In III the tho coulse of ot hi his response to the letter tho the comptroller says that tho the amount of ot these thole being I urge little is isu u ut coK nt reason why wh the thu government should no mistake by hy being a 11 party or a beneficiary of ot tho the violation of ot tim tho law prohibiting tho the giving of at die criminating IU lie Ie I I X advise that before you em take re ro hates bates from rota railroads on the carriage of ot property to the tho government contractors whipped shipped by them and anil pail paid by b them at ut tho the regular rates you rou lay all RII the toots before tho the attorney gout con Hal frill anil procure his opinion aa its to tho the legality of or Hueh transaction Lot Lol mo me repeat I attach no to 10 tho the willingness of ot tho the railroads to grant tho the In question |
