The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-27
FREIGHT TARIFFS.
The Recent Transcontinental Rates.
The Examination by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
The Railroads Must Conform with
the Established Laws.
Undue Advantages Given by Ger
tain Special Tariffs.
Report OF the Judge Advocate General
He Makes Some Wise Suggestions
About Court Martialing, and Says
the Power is Abused.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-The interstate
comlnesce commission, through Com
missioner Walker, has made public the
result OF its examination OF the new
transcontinental tariffs which wero
put in effect on the LIST of September.
1885, After stating the point OF the former
decision in the Denver case, that rates
from San Francisco to Denver are higher
than the rates from San Francisco to Kan
sas City, are not permissible under the
short haul clause OF the act TO regulate
commerce, and showing that the new
tariffs are clearly made in pursuance Of an
honest effort to conform TO the provisions
OF the act as interpreted by the. commits
sion, the opinion proceeds TO examine the
details OF the new system, which were not
known to the commission until after they
were put in force.
The difficulties which arose at Chicago,
st. Louis and other interior points from
which rates are established TO the Pacific
coast, higher than the rates from New
York City, are explained TO have arisen
from series OF commodity tariffs which
named articles on which low rates were
made from specified points, leaving all
other articles and points subject TO the
class rates under the western classification.
In respect to these special tariffs the COM
mission rules as follows:
Rates that are Just and reasonable from
selected manufacturing points, through
the entire territory east OF the Missouri
river and west OF the Atlantic seaboard
are prima iacic Just and reasonable from
all other points in the same territory.
A taritl naming rate from one locality
lower than that enjoyed by its neighbor,
when the circumstances are the same,
tenders preference of advantage to the
iirst; and when any shipper Is damaged
| by the cxaction OF any additional burden
the preference becomes undue and unreas-
enable. unless II can be justified upon
some sound and substantial ground.
Common carriers are under obligations
10 take all descriptions Of ordinary traffic
from all points, and II is right that th,
rates should be known aud announced
publicly in advance OF the offering o.
traffic.
Under the act TO regulate commerce
shippers are not 10 be put in n position o.
subscivicncy 30 common carriers nor re-
quired 10 ask for rates, but are entitled I,
equal and open rates at all times
Determinations are made and undu,
advantages are given by the special tariff
In question, in giving different rates 4
places named anu those not named; {,
manufactured articles named and thos,
not named; TO jobbers at places named an,
those not named; TO manufacturers and Il
jobbem aud other dealers.
The opinion further states that thcs
conclusions were made known ON 0ctobc
10 10 representatives OF the transconti
mental lines at an interview arranged 70
that purpose, and were ny once acecded TO
the modified arrangements suggested b.
commission ~ 20 wesibound business hay
ing gone into effect on October ~.