The record-union., 1892-11-30
Opinion in Case Affecting the
Northern Pacific Road.
RELATING TO RATES FOR FREIGHT
TO SPOKANE FALLS.
Rev. John W. Scott. Father of the
Late Mrs. Harrison, Passes Peace
fully Away at the White House-It
is Reported as Settled That Charles
S. FairchiId VIII Be Secretary of
the Treasury Under CIeveland's
Administration.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-The Interstate
Commerce Commission to-day, in an
opinion by Commissioner Knapp, an
nounced a decision in the case of the
Merchants Union Of Spokane Falls vs..
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
and Union Pacific Railway Company.
The points decided are briefly as follows {:
Transportation by rail from Eastern
points to the Pacific Coast terminals,
Portland, Tacoma and Seattle, is affected
by the competition Of a controlling force,
and in respect to traffic important in the
amount of water carriers reaching the
same terminals, but such competition
does not affect like transportation from
said points to Spokane, Wash. It. is
held, therefore, that defendants were
justified by reason of such dissimilarity
in circumstances and conditions, in
maintaining higher rates on shipments of
like property 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, for
eign carrier, is considered in connection
with the existing water competition, but
Canadian route is not found nor deter
mined.
The class rates in effect upon defend
ants lines and other commodity rates TO
Pacific terminals were examined and dis
cussed. 1t was held that the only iustifi-
cation for through rate less than inter-
mediate rate on the same article is the
compulsiOn of rail carriers to accept re-
duced compensation or suffer their ocean
rivals to perform the service, and where
the pressure of this alternative is not felt
there is no ground upon which a lower
| through charge can be excused. No ar
ticle could be carried to terminal points
at commodity rates, which, if class rates
were imposed, would still seek rail rather
than water transportation, and any vio-
latiOn ofthis rule is an unjust discrimina-
ton against the intermediate town com
PEELED to pay the higher class rate on the
same article.
In the matter of carload and mixed
carload rates, the minimum weight shin
ments are entitled to carload rates, and
in all other respects defendants are re-
quired to provide and allow the same
privileges, facilities and advantages on
shipments to Spokane as provided or al
lowed on like shipments to Portland or
other Pacific Coast terminals.
The blanket class rates applying upon
| the Northern Pacific road for distance
of over $50 miles was found relatively
unreasonable. 1t was also held that the
rates to Spokane, the principal distrib-
uting center to which such blanket rates
apply, are unreasonable in themselve
Defendants are ordered to cease and de-
sist from charging rates on property
from Eastern points to Spokane which
materially exceed 81 per cent. of the class
rates now in effect, both to Spokane and
Pacific Coast terminals.
Provisions are made for reopening the
| case, If necessary, and bringing other
carriers who may be affected by the
Northern Pacific Railroad, notwith-
standing certain provisions, is subject
like all other interstate carriers 10 au-
thority conferred by Congress in the Act
to regulate commerce.