The correct answer for the question that is being presented above is this one: "Rebates to large companies!" The railroad practice did reformers call on governments to legislate in the late 1800s, with minimal success is that Rebates to large companies!
The first continental railroads that started to operate in the second half of the 19th century were heavily subsidized by the government. This caused major public discontent, as it was alleged that it led the railroad industry to impose predatory commercial practices on its consumers. Efforts made by the National Grange of Patron's of Husbandry in 1870 in order to change this was neutralized by interests of powerful business groups that operated in the Midwest. However, this organization's efforts led the government to create the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) in order to regulate commons carriers.
The "Elkins Act" forbade railroads to offer rebates to large corporations and required them to publish their rates. Nevertheless, the act did not authorize the ICC to determine whether the rates were reasonable or not, making the law inefficient.
In 1917, Germany, determined to win its war of attrition against the Allies, announced the resumption of unrestricted warfare in war-zone waters. Three days later, the United States broke diplomatic relations with Germany, and just hours after that the American liner Housatonic was sunk by a German U-boat.
Washington's leading exports include aerospace products and parts, cement and concrete products, seafood products and computer software – with exports of both goods and services representing 18.3 percent of the state's total gross domestic product (GDP).
