The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-09-25
THEY CLAIM TO OBEY THE LAW.
Interstate Commerce Commission
Studying Chicago's Complaint.

CHICAGO, Sept. 24.-The indignation ex-
pressed by merchants and manufacturers
throughout fhe country az the course pnr-
sued by Tie iTaase0nt!uen,al roGss ia Hx-
ing the new tariffs, has caused the inter
state commerce commission TO investigate
the matter without waiting for the formal
complaint TO be made. Commissioner A.
r. Walker has taken the matter in hand,
and is now collecting evidence on which
20 base decision. Walker, who has given
the question OF tTanscontinentai rates
much thought, wrote the decision in The
well lkBown Denver case, which is taken
by the Southern and Central Pacific as a
pretext for making the present discrimina-
lions IN rates lie has sent two messages
/ 10 Chairman stidgely OF the Pacific Coast
Association, asking for tariffs and circulars
ROW in effect, showing the rates or rules
for making rates from the Atlantic sea
board to intermediate points on transcon-
,iBental lines from Buffalo, Detroit, Chiea-
go and the Mississippi river, from the Pa
ciiic coast to Colorado, Kansas and Ne.
hraska. and any other information neees-
sary 10 give him complete understanding
OF the situation.
lMidgeiy has complied with the request
to the extent Of making statement OF the
matter from his standpoint He informed
Commissioner Walker that the members of
the Transeoutinental association were III
session at Sau Francisco when his opinion
was received In the Denver case, where
upon they adjourned TO meet ia ST Paul.
The understanding being that within the
next so days they must get their tariffs TO
conform 10 the opinions expressed in the
Denver decision. 1hey understood That
the disparities ia classification on inter
state and Paeiflc coast bBsiness were TO be
removed. and that the tariff rates between
Eastern points and the Pacific coast should
establish a maximum To be charged for
intermediate hauis. The Southern Pacific,
which. from is commanding position on
She Pacific coast. largely determines the
course 20 be pursued By the traEscoRtinen-
tai lines, announced at the st. Paul
meeting that il had decided 20
conform to the views outlined
ia the Denver decision. Thus, the tariff
between Omaha and Kansas CitY ard san
Francisco being $S 20 ilrstelass, that is the
maximum to he charged for Ike ship
ment from any point west OF the Missouri
river on one Of the direct lines 10 san
Francisco In Ike manner rates were
made between Mississippi river points.
Chicago, Fitishurg aud Buffalo, but Ia re-
gard 10 competitive traffic between New
York aBd Pacific coast terminals differ
eut position vas taken. These rates were
established with the idea OF competing
with clipper ships for business between
the Atlantic Seaboard and the Pacific
coast Estcs were made low, bu, did not
establish a MaNinlNm 10 be charged on
like commodities from the Atlantic to
points on trRnSeonaueutGl lines east OF the
Pacific coast, which was considered 10 be
iu conformity with the opinion expressed
in the Louisville & Nashville decision Of
the commission
For further information Mr. Mldgeiy re-
ieTTei Commissioner Walker 10 the officers
Of the TrSusaauiiuental Association.