St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-30
SPOKANE DEFEATED.
Railroads Benefit by an Inter-
state Commission Decision.

Railroads Benefit by an Inter-
state Commission Decision.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-The inter
state commerce commission today in an
opinion by Commissioner j. Knapp, an
nounced its decision in the case Of the
Merchants union, Of Spokane Falls,
against the Northern Pacific Railway
company and the Union Pacific Rail
way company. The points decided are
briefly as follows:
Transportation by rail from
Eastern points to Pacific coast terminals,
Portland, Tacoma and Seattle, is effected
by the competition of controlling force
and In respect to traffic, important In
amount. of water carriers reaching the
same terminals. but such competition
does not affect like transportation from
said to the city OF Spokane, Wash. lis
held, therefore, that the defendants are
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 long distance to said Pacific terInl-
nails. The competitive position and at
titude of the Canadian Pacific railway,
foreign carrier, considered in connec-
ton with existing water competition,
but the separate effect of competition by
the Canadian route not found nor deter
mined.
Second-Class rates i'll effect upon the
defendants lines and other commodity
rates to the Pacific terminals examined
and discussed. 1t is held that the only
Justification for a through rate less
than an intermediate rate OH the same
article is the COmpulSiOn of rail carriers
to accept the reduced compensation or
suffer ocean rivals to perform the
service. and where the pressure of
this alternative is not felt there is no
ground upon which the lower through
charge can be excused. No article
could be carried to terminal points at
rates, which, if the class rates were inn
posed would still seek rail rather than
water transportation, and any viola
ton OF this rule is unjust dlScrlmlna-
ton against the intermediate town
compelled to pay the higher class rate
on the same article.
Third-In the matter of carload and
mixed carload rates, minimum weight
of shipments entitled to carload rates.
and in all other respects, defendants
are required to provide and allow the
same privileges, facilities and adj
VdntaSeS III shipments TO GOfIianu Or
other Pacific coast terminals.
FOurth-Blanket class rates applying
upon the Northern Pacific road for
distance Of over $50 miles found relat-
lively unreasonable. 1t is also held that
rates to Spokane, the principal dis
trlbutlng center to which such
blanket rates apply, are unreason-
able in themselves. Defendants Or
dered to cease and desist from charging
rates on property from Eastern points
to Spokane, which materially exceed 81
per cent of class rates now in effect,
both to Spokane and Pacific coast ter
miDals. Provisions made for reopen
ing the case are necessary, and bringing
in other carriers who may be affected
by the order.
Fifth-The Northern Pacific railroad,
Notwithstanding certain provisions i'll
other charters, is subject, like all other
interstate carriers, to the authority con-
ferred by congress in the act to regulate
citing and affirming Raworth
VS.. Northern Pacific Railroad Company
ct al, L. G. C., rep. 257; 3 l. e. report
357.