, 1889-01-31
III MEANS WAR.
Freight Discrimination to be
Fought With Law.
Action Of the Board of Trade
in the Matter.
A Test Suit VIII Probably be Instituted
Letter and Some Advice From
Senator Reagan.


determinations from which the merchants
have so long suffered. and test suit, 10
bring the matter before the authorities for
adjustment will be instituted against the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company.
The matter was brought up by w. s..
Norman, the secretary of the com mittee
on frei0hts and transportation. who stated
that no had been in communication with
parties who were complaining about the
exhorbitant rates charged by the Northern
Pacific. A gentleman largely interested
an the future of Spokane Falls had laid
the case OF the shipment Of certain con-
signment OF goods, on which the rate to
the Sound and back had been charged. be-
tore the Interstate CON mission, with a
view OF founding a case for their consider
alton. Correspondence had been opened
with an attorney at Washington and with
Senator Reagan, the author of the inter.
state conimerce bill. The senator respond.
ed to the following effect.
Your letter ofJanuary sth Is received. /
have only time to say in answer thereto
freight by the railroad, with return rates
added. when the freight has not been
carried through, violates more than
ono provision Of the inter-
state commerce law, which requires that
rates shall be reasonable; that here shall
dates the fourth section, the long and short
haul clause. II the people would prose.
cute the railroads for these violations OF
law by civilsu and by indictment they
would arrest the evil. In refer.
providing competition by division OF
territory, l can only now say the object of
that law was to secure to the people the
benefit of com petition. note what you
say about the people OF Spokane Falls
Il
pany for violations of the law for fear 1t
will ruin them II they do SO. One OF the
great obiects OF that law was TO prevent
this very mischief Of intimidating and op.
pressing the people, and II they h-ve the
courage TO- do their duty to them.
the necessary legal steps for
their own protection, they may soon make
the railroads respect their rights The peo.
E,le hold In their own hands, through the
aesacy OF the courts, the power to secure
their punishment for every act Of Injustice
and discrimination against them. II they
viii not do this. with the remedy open be-
% pit,ied. Have you called the
attention Of the railroad commission
mention Ia you letter to me? II you will
do SO that commission will doubtless aid
You In finding the proper remedy.
Very respectfully,
JoHN II. RRAaAH.
ns,s e:''rrsd your letter to the riIr0'd
Mr.. Norman said that the gentleman
who had started this matter had written
che com mmittee of the board asking its CO.
operation Ia the contest. He believed that
the time had come when this community
must face the fghs. The lack Of security
OF our rates harrassed our trade, and If
we were to become the jobbing center of
the upper country, and he believed that
ultimately we were destined to occupy
that position. we must have the coast rate
te which we we're justly entitled. The
case which the correspondent suggested
was large and important one. IL
might, however, be worth while to take
up other test cases, and push them con-
currently. He believed that they had
very stroug case, indeed and the fact that
Ellensburg, point 260 miles further
west had lower rate than Spokane Falls,
was one which could be brought out be-
fore the interstate commission and which
could not fail to have due weight. He
thought the time had come to act; and he
believed that the board should proceed in
the spirit Senator Reagan had advised.
A long and spirited discussion ensued,
and it was urged that an appeal should be
made to the citizens to carry the
matter to the court, two or three
members promising subscription in fur
therance OF the matter.
Mr.. Tull proposed and Mr.. Patterson.
seconded the appointment of special
committee of three to commence cores.
pondence on the subject, to act In unison
with the parties who had initiated COM
plant, and to bring forth such additional
facts as will add weight to the case; the
committee to act In conjunction with the
existing committee on freights and trans
portation; The president appointed &c
M. Tuil, the president being added by
unanimous vote Of the board.
The president in appointing the COM
mittee expressed the opinion that the time
had come for the citizens to take stern &C.
etiou toward securing what was a matter
of Justice and right In this freight sub
iect. They required to act in unison, to
make up their minds what they wanted,
and to strive by every legitimate means to
obtain these wants. There was ne ques-
tion, Spokane's case was strong one,
sion would uphold them In their rights.
He believed. too, the time had Come when
Spokane, with her immense business was
above the fear of intimidation, while he
readily admitted that the railroad had
brought Spokane Falls into existence. she
had grown through her own immense re-
sources. She was to-day h position not
of the supplicant at the foot Of q great
corporation, but OF strong and thriving
com munity prepared and ready to see that
her just rights were granted.
Mr.. Fairman Of the emigration commit
tee reported that It had not been able to
como to any satisfactory conclusion on the
matter Of the joint publication with the
city council of 20,0o0 pamphlets descrip.
tive OF the city, as the committee was only
authorized to expend 500. Itwas stated