Prior to the Elkins Act, the livestock and petroleum industries paid standard rail shipping rates, but then would demand that the railroad company give them rebates. The railroad companies resented being extorted by the railroad trusts and therefore welcomed passage of the Elkins Act. The law was sponsored by President Theodore Roosevelt as a part of his "Square Deal" domestic program, and greatly boosted his popularity.
prior to the elkins act the livestock and petroleum industries paid standard rail shipping rates but then would demand that the railroad company give them rebates the railroad companies resented being extorted by the railroad trusts and therefore welcomed passage of the elkins act the law was sponsored by president theodore roosevelt as a part of his "square deal" domestic program and greatly boosted his popularity