West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-11-16
AGAINST The RAILROADS.
DECISION OF THE IOWA CON-
MISSIONERS.
Their Opinion in Favor Of the Jobbers.
Demands--T They Lack the POWER 10
Enforce the Demands.

Enforce the DemanoS'
Dies MONIES, Iowa, Nov. 3.-Ihe
Iowa Board of Railway Commits
sioners to-day filed their opinion In
the cases of jobbers of Davenport
and the Burlington. The jobbers
charge determinations in freight
rates against the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific. Chicago, Mil
waukee and st. Paul, Burlington,
Cedar Rapids and Northern, and
Minneapolis and st. Louis Rail
ways. The findings of the board
are that the charge Of conspiracy is
not sustained. The charges of dis
ordinations being interstate, and
beyond the control of the board
The charge of unjust and extortion-
ate rates is fully proved by evidence
and sustained by the board, which
adopt the rates in the first, second,
third, fourth, and fifth classes, and
A, B, C, d, and E classes of the
Commissioners schedule of June 2S,
with the addition of the lumber rate
in the Burlington case, the Western
classification having been adopted
in:.lieu OF the Illinois classification.
The opinion states that the evil
dence on the question of dis
elimination in Interstate rates
against Iowa shippers develops
system of rates so unjust as to be
serious blow at the business pros
perity of those thus engaged within
the State. The low rates obtained
by Iowa iobbers from the Eastern
markets are neutralized by the high
local rates within the State so that
the fifth class rate in the sixth
class rate out are largely in ex-
cess of the class from Chicago
to Iowa points, and our dealers are
placed at such y disadvantage rs to
destroy largely the profits and seri
ously cripple their business, in fact
some of them declaring that unless
relief comes in a reduction OF high
local rates they will be compelled to
leave the State and go where they
can do business at profit.
In many instances the discriml-
nation in rates in favor Of Chicago
merchants are 90 and % per cent,
and representatives Of Iowa bust
ness houses find themselves at such
a disadvantage as TO be unable TO
compete unless at sacrifice. and
the result in our business interests
in Iowa are languishing and the
field is given up largely to Chicago
dealers. The product of Eastern
manufacturers enjoy the benefit of
low rates from the East, and also
those from Ohio, Indiana, and Hi
nois, and our State is invaded with
the product of the workmen OF those
States. laid down at our doors at
lower rates than Iowa manufacto-
ries can transport their goods from
the mandatory in Iowa to points
within our own State under the
present Iowa distance; hence Iowa
industries are few and far between
and struggling for existence. From
a careful examination OF these rates
and the testimony in this investiga-
ton the Commissioners are OF the
opinion that the charge of conspir-
acy made is not sustained, there
having been no evidence offered as
to this allegation. The proof OF
discrimination was confined entire
ly to comparison between the
State and inter. State business, over
which the Commissioners have no
jurisdiction.
While the Commissioners are un-
able to grant relief against inter
State determinations, they are OF
the opinion that fair reduction OF
local rates within the State is the
proper remedy to protect Iowa in
terests against the injustice they
are subjected to from jiscriminat-
ing inter State rates. The Com
missioners claim that the effect OF
the decision is to put into effect the
Commissioners schedule despite the
Brewer and Fairall injunctions.
The opinion is signed by Com
missioners Smith and Campbell
It was sent to Commissioner Dey
last week for his approval, but he
returned it unsigned with the fol
lowing bit of interesting informa
ton offered: "Mr. Fred Wild of Da.
venport, Secretary Of the Twin
Cities Freight Association, in let
ter dated Oct. 81, has threatened
me in the name of the jobbers of the
State with their opposition to my
candidacy for Railroad Commis-
sioner unless the opinion OF this
board in the Davenport case was
made public on or before Friday,
Nov. 2. In this situation / am
compelled by my feelings OF self re-
spect to decline until after the cleo
tion to give any expression of my
views upon the subject. I do not
believe that a public officer whose
duty it is to determine questions of
this kind, which are practically ju-
dicial, should allow personal inter
ests to sway his judgment"
Many business men characterize
the action Of the Commissioner as