How did the Elkins act hurt corporations

Couldn't receive discounts for the railroads: The Elkins Act attacked rebates given to certain corporations to ship their items while farmers and small businesses were paying full price to ship their goods.

The Elkins Act made rebates or discounts for the railroad illegal. It required that everyone pay the same rate to use the rail lines preventing inequities in the transportation cost and imbalanced treatment. The high prices were putting smaller businesses and farmers out of business while larger corporations were shipping more cheaply.