Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-17
JOBBERS REJOICE
The Iowa Board Of Railway
Commissioners File Their
Opinion.
Charges or E~StOrtionatc Rates
Against Davenport and Burning
ton Manufacturers Sus-
tanned.

DEs MONIES, Nov. 6.-The Iowa board
of railway commissioners Saturday filed
their opinion in the cases Of the jobbers
Of Davenport and Burlington, charging
determinations in freight rates against
the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific,
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
the Burlington Cedar Rapids and North
ern, and the Minneapolis and st. Louis
railways. The findings of the board are:
I. The charge of conspiracy is not sus.
tanned. e. The charge of determinations
being interstate are beyond the control of
the board. 3. The charge of unjust, ex-
tortionate rates is fully proved by evi
dence and sustained by the board, which
adopts the rates in the first, second, third,
fourth and fifth classes and A. Il, {, ID,
and f classes Of the commission
cr's schedule Of June %, with
the addition Of tie lumber rate in the
Burlington case, the western classified
ton having been adopted in lieu Of the
Illinois classification. The opinion states
that the evidence GA the question Of dis
elimination in interstate rates against
Iowa shippers develops q system Of rates
so unjust a2 20 bca serious blow at the
business prosperity OF those thus engaged
within the state. The loiV rates OBJ
tanned by Iowa iobbcrs from the eastern
markets are rcutrAli2cd by The high local
rates within the STATE 80 that the fifth
class rate in and fourth class rate out are
largely in excess of the first class from
Chicago TO Iowa points and Iowa dealers
are placed at such a disadvantage as to
destroy largely their profits and seriously
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 a
profit.
In many instances the discriminative
rates in favor Of Chicago merchants are
20 and % per cent, and representatives
of Iowa business houses find themselves
at such q disadvantage as to be unable to
compete unless at a sacrifice, and the re-
suit Is that business interests in iowa are
languishing and the field given up largely
to Chicago dealers. What is true of the
Iowa jobbing interests is largely the case
in reference TO the manufacturing inter
ests of the state, the products of eastern
manufacturers enjoying the benefits Of
low rates from the east, and also those
from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and Iowa
invaded with the product Of the work
men of those states laid down at our doors
at lower rates than Iowa manufactures
can transport their goods from the manu-
factory in Iowa to points within our own
state, under the present Iowa dis
lance. Hence, Iowa industries are
few and far between. and strug-
Cling for an existence against great odds,
and in some instances shut down or are
removing from the state to preserve an
existence. From a careful comparison of
these rates and the testimony in this in
yestigation the commissioners arc Of the
opinion that the charge of conspiracy
made is not sustained, there having been
30 evidence offered as to this allegation.
Tie proof of discrimination was confined
entirely to a comparison between state
and interstate business, over which the
commissioners have no jurisdiction, and
while the commissioners are unable to
grant relief against interstate disCrimina-
ton they are of the opinion that a fair re.
GuCllOn VI lDCdl TdlcS NllhlH lit SAAlt ID
the proper remedy to protect Iowa inter
csts against the injustice they are sub-
jected to from discriminating interstate
rates.
The commissioners claim that the effect
Of the decision is TO put into effect the
commissioners schedule despite the
Brewer and Fairall injunction. The opin.
ion is signed by Commissioners Smith and
Campbell. 1t was sent to Commissioner
Dey last week for his approval, but he
returned it unsigned, with the following
bit of interesting information offered:
Fred Wilde of Davenport, secretary o.
the Twin Cities Freight association. in
letter dated October 81, has threatened me
in the name Of the jobbers Of the state
with their opposition to my candidacy
for railroad commissioner unless the
opinion Of this board in the Davenport
case was made public On or before Friday
November 2. In this situation | am com
PEELED by my feelings of self respect tt
decline TO give any expression of my
views upon the subject. DO believe
that q public officer, whose duty it is tC
determine questions Of this kind, which
are practically judicial, should allow
p%orScnal intproete IN ewav his iuurmpnt