The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-12
COTTON TO NEW ORLEANS
THE APPEAL TO THE INTERSTATE
COMMISSION DECIDED.

The Complaint Dismissed on All Points
Except the Relative Rates From
Jackson, Miss. and Meridian to New
Orleans, Which Are Corrected by
Adjustment-The Decision Outlined
WASHINGTON, April 11.-In the two
cases of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange
against the Illinois Central Railway Com
pany and seventeen other railroad COM
panies, and against the Cincinnati and New
Orleans and Texas and Pacific Railroad
Companies, and ten other railroad COM
panies, decided to-day by the interstate
commerce commission, Mr.. Bragg, COM
missioner. delivering the opinion, which
involves the relative ereasonableness of rates
on cotton from interior points in the cotton
producing country to New Orleans and to
eastern mills, the complaint was dismissed
as to all other material points except the
relative rates from jackson, Miss, and
Meridian to New Orleans, which are cor
rected by the commission by adjustment
THE POINTS INVOLVED.
The following points were decided in these
cases:
/. There was involved the relative reasonable
ness of rates upon the transportation of cotton
from the southern states by all rail lines TO
northern and eastern mills and Atlantic ports
upon through rates and long haul on the one
hand and ON the other the local rates OF rail
carriers to a near port upon short haul at
which their service terminates, they having
no associated line OF steamships for a con-
tnuous carriage to the ultimate destination.
But the cotton so carried by them TO such near
port being chiefly for export. and all such rail
lines penetrating the same territory and COM
south and east Ia opposite directions, such ques.
tions can only be disposed of on broad lines and
not from narrow considerations.
:. la considering such questions thus pre-
sented the circumstances and conditions sur
rounding the traffic in the respective service
performed in its carriage by the rail carrier
may be, and In these proceedings are found to
be substantially dissimilar or wholly unlike.
- PROPORTIONS IN THROUGH RATES
3. The proportion of one carrier In through
rate upon long haul often Is, and frequently
may be- considerably less than its local
rate for hauling the same freight over its own
line without there being any unjust dlscrimlna-
Lion, unlawful preference, or extOrtton involved
in such a method.
f. The active composition of these all-rail
carriers for the transportation OF such freight,
thereby giving them the benefit of the pro
dlcer and consumer, and furnishing many out
let's to markets, is one of the results contem-
plated by the act to regulate commerce, and
which it was intended to promote.
DIFFERENCES PER TON PER MILE.
5, In determining such questions as compari
son of rates based upon the doctrine that the
rate per ton per mile for each of the different
services so performei should be the same is not
applicable, citing former decisions OF the com
mission upon this subject
6. In solving questions of this character the
commission will look at and consider every
fact, circumstance and condition surrounding
the traffic and OF the service performed IN its
transportation, and If the competition OF the
water carriers at any point is such as to be
large, active and of controlling force, the all
rail lines competing for the traffic at the same
points may make rates that are reasonable
and just in view of such competition, and which
will enable them TO participate in the carriage
of the traffic, and they are not Obliged to 20
out of the business aud leave IL as q monopoly
to the water carriers.
COST OF COMPRISING.
z. The method OF compressing cotton for
shipment from the southern states is one that
is found to be absolutely necessary In the case
of long through hauls by rail. or where the cot
ton is carried by coastwise steamers or by
ocean vessels for export, and uncompressed
cotton received by rail carriers should be com
pressed at the actual and necessary cost of
compressing.
8. Upon the fact found in these cases the com
mission will not order the rail carriers to trans
port cotton on fiat cars instead Of box cars to
New Orleans, the rate being the same ON each,
no injury being shown to have resulted to the
petitioners or that city, or to any shipper or
producer from the carriage in box cars.