New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-14
COAL RATES REDUCED
DECISION N THE COKE CASE.

THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION DE-
CIDES AGAINST THE PRESENT SCHEDULE
on THE LEHIGH VALLEY-soME
OTHER POINTS ALSO SETTLED.
Washington March lathe Interstate Commerce
Commission TO day decided the Of Coke Brothers
& co. against The Lchlch Valley railroad Company
In the opinion the Commission SAYS:
Tho questions presented Determination are the
alleged undue preferences. unjust discrimination and ui-
reasonable pertinent n which the complaints sub
mtrd for The consideration OF the Commission proposed
Bindings ~ tat In substance as follows:
l. That the Lehieh Valley carrie, snthracit" ond
htumnou, Goals the distance In the same drec
ton under casslnraons that the tara sheets
AID rates app cable Anthracite do not apply 70 otrmin
ou, and that two like Kind OF freight ana
should - ciassed together is class Of freight
.. That the done BY the Lohieh valley Coal Com
ulny com cd with the buying and selling Of coal ana
the transportation Of the The road Of the Lehgh
Valy Railroad Conn are the same as II done by sad
"a Ir al company and DONE constitute Illegal and IN
Just discrimination against Tie coHplanant> and the pubic
generally and that the proper rat" to be paid by all snip
per over said road between the sane points AZ The sam"
r il rained by deductnR from the established rate
the los su.a ned by said coal company al buyer OF coal
for shipment said railroad
3 That the ratios per ton per mile charged
nv tho eilrond company anthracite coal arc higher
than general freight. and that the ratio Of 81 so per
ton OF 2.oiO pounds to Perth Amboy from IN" Lehsh
coal region distance OF about 1875 miles Is excessive
|
| Commission nav decide 10 h" reasonable rate.
Il conceded that the b'unEou- coal mines ac twice
y nor" than tvlrc ~ tlnt a. Oh" anthracite mines
! Tom Ncw-YorX H,rbor Perth Amboy, while the trans
p,rtat on charges btuuinous were and are greater
than aggregate but loss In proportion to di'tanc" o.
pr ton per mile. 10 j. shown that I'm the Last Ten years
Inc ,e 4 anthracite In Eastern markets has been main
r.n,d and the urcc ~ btuninous considerably reduced.
d that many manufacturers and CONSUMERS discontinued
t .~ oi anthracite ana substituted htuminous while
u. complainant and other proiucei- nailed To find pron'a"
LA anthracite they produced and were prepared
} Ia produce"
r, couplnlnans n.s that the Displacement OF anthracite
hv bumuou. has deprived them ard other Minors u hlT
| onu ~ profitable markets and that this condition j.
the result cNccsye rate, anthracit" and q ncdua
aud discrimination In hNor OF btlWlnous th't read
un,nt OF rate, OF bal, o: the relative distances "
u. Md u production would rrns'at" IA" anthracite
n Eastern markets.; and that the Classification II the
two coal. freight would remove the inequality
and discrimination In favor Of buminous and establish
All coal charges ON basis. except % the extent
! that terminal expenses nieht molly the rate per ton
/ PER mlIr Tor longer distances.
In the present ~ the law classification Is not
OBLIGATORY roads. The grounds upon which W. are
asked to md these Goals TO be the same freight.
Ike Kind traffic. Is That they arr loaded. unIoaded
and Transported the zane way and Substantially AZ
the same expense TO IA" carrier, and are largely
used Tor the same purposes. though onchar or more
Cd, the anthracite l. used To- domestic purposes. The Ie'
suit Of classifying and rating all coal Including these
lvcr grades smaller sizes. freight would be That
ne
be at greater disadvantage than they now are and
Tor ordinary ,eamng would be cut out by the btumnous
while In which anthracite Il Indispensable inc
ragcr Lies AZ the same rate would dispacc the smaller
The consequence would be that p per cent IN quantity or
out 10 per In present value Of all anthracite mined
world H. unable bear the burden Of transportation ana
would be wasted until such time IL could be locally con
,rrted power and the power transmitted Ihcre Is
therefore. the present no hardship but economy III
making the best bear Of the burden Of the Inferior
which is voluntary. but resulting production Any
regulation imposing additional transportation or othef
| butd.n, ON btuminous coal keep IL out Of Eastern
market, would challenge the wisdom which deposited an
abundance Of cheap fuel In the east side OF the Aesha
| Mountains.
H. /, .hown that the railroad company owns the capital
stock property and franchises Of tn" coal company Inc
same prrons officers Of both companies The authority
Of , Commission eXtcnd' TO such abuses only as are III
conflict with to regulate commerce. or some OF it,
ptoyision. While coal company may In the "Ner'i''
Of 10, chartered rights, buy and cell COAL certahb "a
Coi ION cannot determine the prices at which 1t may
,uv and sell 40 that the railroad company realize It's
established freight rates carrier and suffer no loss AZ
so. khoder The Commission would be- incapable of any
uc, determination II It had authority TO make it,
ye, the fact the railroad company directly ~ car
r.r and dir,cy through It's coal company ~ an OPP
orator. corducts the bDiness of buying shipping car
rylng and selling coM that the rold realizes less Tor
Recommendation than It's established rates affords evidence
n the dcftdants readiness to take the freight at less thah
full charges and usnes the conclusion that the charges
| m Other. are 10 extent ccs'Ne.
In concluding long argument on tlc SuuJc0V vi ii
reduction Of the rates all sizes of coal to tide
water. the decision says:
I'll. pfactlcable and adjustment OF the rates
on such eastbound distance traffic, which we have
dtencd upon reasonable ton OF 22iO pounds from
be colerles Of compalnants to Perth Amboy Is on the
renared and larger sizes. 81 80 FL 20 on buck
ube,t and culm IL o.. The charges 20 adjusted on the
veal GRADES or sizes Of coal and applicable to COM
nlanants' shipments Perth Amboy are not meant TO
rt or To establish relation OF the charges made or to
ne made on Buffalo and longer distance shipments where
liver anthracite maintained than are or may De
! I'm force on time shipments.
Tho rates now determined upon believed to he liberal
H. teioht 50 inexpensive coal and H. after trial. II Is
,ound that they are high. We VIII not hesitate 70
oure further reductions but in view OF Interests SO vast
the castbound anthracite traffic which may be Affected
,c d, not now feel justified In determining upon any
ver scale Of charges. These rates go into effect Api
90 1891. ,
The present rates are 81 20 on the prepared ana
iorgcs sizes ~ 40 pea, and S 20 on bnckwhcat anu
| culm.
| MIR CORBIN'S BID NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
Concord ~ H., March l3.-Thc last letter Oh AuStih
,-orbin In relation to his proposition to purchase
| the interest of the state in the Concord Railroad
sg.f.. Aft Tho L.