Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-09-21
COMMERCE BETWEEN STATES.

Decision OF the Inter- State Com m 81 sion
In Chicago, st, Paul and Kansas
City Case.
Washington, Sept. 19.--The interstate
commerce commission to-day, through
Chairman Cooley, filed an opinion in the
matter OF the Chicago, st. Paul and
Kansas City railroad company. This
company in Jane last notified the com
mlssioners that, owing to the action OF
competing lines covering rates between
Chicago and st. Paul and Minneapolis,
it has been obliged to reduce its own
rates between those points below the
rates which II could afford to accept to
intermediate points, 30 that upon its
line there would be greater charges
made upon the shorter haul than upon
the longer in the same direction, and it
stated that If complaint should be made
of this it would be made to Justify its
action under the Interstate commerce
law. The commission thereupon made
an order for hearing to be had at Da-
ouque at which this company would be
cslied up to Justify Its action, aud Tor
public notification, 80 that the other
companies interested and also any
commercial organizations or any other
patty desiring to be heard might have
opportunity. A bearing was according
~ had, and on the hearing the respond
ent company gave evidence tending to
show that the action IL had taken was
forced upon 1t by the Burlington and
Northern railroad company, which made
rate between Chicago, st. Paul and
Minneapolis below that which would be
compensatory and below what 1t was
possible for any competing lines to
make without actual loss, and it pro-
duoed evidence tending strongly to
show that the Burlington and Northern
on the rates it was making was not pay.
ing operating expenses. The Chicago,
Milwaukee q st. Paul road also appear
ed and offered similar evidence, taking
similar position to that of the respou-
dent company. The Burlington and
Northern, on the other hand, was repre-.
sented by its general officers and insist
ed that its rates were remunerstiye, and
showed that 1t was accepting them
without making at any point greater
charge on the shorter haul. The evil
denoe that its receipts were sufficient to
cover operating expenses was not very
strong, and it clearly appeared that for
the current year IT was falling behind
lAe respondent company insisted that
the commission should either sanction
the rates it Was making to intermediate
stations between its tarmini, which we're
rates fair in themselves, or that ii should
order the Burlington and Northern to
increase its rates between Chicago and
st. Paul and Minneapolis 80 as
to make them just as reasonable
to the carriers themselves and
we'll as to the public. In other words.
to make them fairly remunerative. and
1t was insisted that the provision OF the
inter state commerce law that all charges
shall be reasonable and just was not com.
Piled with unless they were reasonable
and Just, considered from the stand
point OF the railroad company as well ss
from that of the general public The
Burlington and Northern. il was therefore
oontended, was in constant violation OF
the Interstate commerce law in making
rates 80 low thst neither itself nor its
rivals could accept them without q
steady and destructive drain upon their
resources.
The commission finds and adjudges
that the transportation of freights by the
respondent upon its road from Chicago
10 st. Paul, Minneapolis and Minnesota
Transfer, ana from it's northern terminal
to Chicago is made under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions to
those under which like freights are
transported to the same direction to
intermediate stations, and, such being
the case, that the greater charges which
the respondent makes to such interne-
diate stations are illegal. An order will
be entered that the respondent cease and
iesist from making such illegal charges.