Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-30
LONG AND SHORT HAUL
AN IMPORTANT INTERSTATE COM
MERGE DECISION.
The Merchants of Spokane Fail to Se-
cure Redress for All Their Griev-
ances Against the Pa
cific Railways.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-The interstate
commerce commission today, in an opin-
ion by Commissioner ]. Knapp, an
nounced decision in the case OF the
Merchants union of Spokane Falls
against the Northern Pacific Railroad
company and the Union Pacific Railway
company. The points decided are
briefly as follows:
Transportation by rail from eastern
points to the Pacific coast terminals, Port.
land, Tacoma and Seattle, is affected by
the competition OF controlling force,
and in respect to traffic important in
amount, of water carriers reaching to
the same terminals; but such competi-
tion does not affect like transportation
from said points to Spokane, Wash. 1t
is held, therefore, that the defendants
are justified by reason of such dissim-
ilarity in circumstances and conditions,
in maintaining higher rates on
shipments of like commodities from
said points for the shorter distance to
Spokane than for the longer distance to
said Pacific terminals. The competitive
position and attitude of the Canadian
Pacific railway, foreign carrier, is con-
sidered in connection with the existing
water competition, but the separate
effect of the competition by the Canadi
an route is not found nor determined.
2. The class of rates in effect upon
defendants' lines and other commodity
rates to Pacific terminals was examined
and discussed. 1t is held that the only
justification for through rate less than
"a int infn IN kha
Gle is the compulsion of the rail carriers
suffer ocean rivals to perform the SER
vice, and where the pressure of this al
tentative is not felt there is no ground
upon which lower through charge
can be excused. No article could be
carried to terminal points at commodity
rates, which if the class rates were i'm
posed, would still seek rail rather than
water transportation, and any violation
of this rule is unjust discrimination
against the intermediate town COM
PEELED to pay higher class rate on the
same article.
8. In the matter of carload rates, the
minimum weight of shipments is en-
titled to carload rates, and in all other
respects the defendants are required to
provide and allow the same privileges,
facilities and advantages on shipments
to Spokane as are provided or allowed
on like shipments to Portland or other
Pacific coast terminals.
The blanket class rates applying upon
the Northern Pncific road for distance
of over $50 miles, are found unreason-
able. 1t is also held that rates to
Spokane, the principal distributing
center to which such blanket rates
apply, are unreasonable in themselves.
The defendants are ordered to cease and
desist from charging rates on property
from eastern points to Spokane which
materially exceed 80 per cent of the
class rates now in effect, both to
Spokane and Pacific coast terminals.
The provisions are made for reopening
the case if necessary, and bringing in
other carriers who may be affected.
The Northern Pacific railroad, not
withstanding certain provisions in its
charter, is subject like all other inter
state carriers, to the authority conferred
by congress in the act to regulate COM
merCe.