The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-19
\ TACOMA TODAY.
Gpokane Rate Case Hearing
Finished in This City.
s,o SHIPPERS Or THE STAND.
4 ou1st Day in the Courthouse on the
Hili-No Federal Court Until
Tuesday.

The hearing In the Spokane rate case
Vas continued yesterday before Special
Master Sawyer. the only additional wit
Masses examined being +. G. Aeuselder,
sresident Of schwsbacher Bros. K Co. Inc,
end Charles Loach, Of Louch. Augustine
Co. Their testimony was In line with
nat taken on the preceding day. going to
shou that the present favorable railway
rates enjoyed by Seattle shippers were
forced upon the railroads by the compe-
tffion OF water lines.
The taking OF the evidence was some
What tedious. General Counsel c. w.
Gunn, OF the Northern Pacific. who con-
fucted the direct examination, took a
sranscontinental tariff and went through
gtitem by item, asking the witnesses about
each commodity, as 10 where IL was
bought. Ii what quantities. the rates by
water and the rates by rail. This would
have been tiresome enough IN itself. but
when ~ came 10 the crosg-examination.
With the ceaseiess repetition Of Are you
sure and Was that your total ship
nentT' and 'sWiil you state again7" the
esf5encs was indeed long drawn out When
ATTORNEY Graves. who was conducting the
cross-examination. went stu further and
drew the line OF distinction so fine as 30
ask yr. Nsufeider whether ne was sure
that he had given an exact approxIma-
I0{s, tltt 6ltIr&5 patience EstGGrl almost
exhausted. Mr.. Graves showed little OF
the sans temper that marked his conduct
o. the case on Wednesday. appearing 20
take II for granted that the witnesses were
prejadiced In favor OF the railroads.
Thu examination. which was conducted
IN ore OF the rooms OF Bolster. Bowman A
WsIfhew. consumed the entire forenoon.
ana was continued at 2 O'Clock. A. z2o
o'clock, when Mr. Louch had finished ses-
flying. William A. Underwood. New York
counsel for the Northern Pacific receiver,
stated that the attorneys for the railroads
had examined several other witnesses here.
but fading thai their testimony would sim
ply corroborats that already introduced.
had decided that further evidence here
would be needless. He stated that four
Witnesses would be called In Tacoma. and
Judge Sawyer accordingly adjourned tina
hearing 10 that city. where all parties will
meet In the Tacoma hotel AT 10 O'Clock this
morning, going thence 20 Portland In time
Tor session next Monday.
decision Just reached by the United
States circuit court OF appeals AZ New Or
leans viii be OF special interest IN view
Of the Spokane rate case. Troy. small
town In Alabama. became vexed at the
lower railroad rates accorded 10 Mont
Romery and the Troy board Of trade took
the matter before the interstate oommeres
commission. which decided In favor OF
Troy. Tho case was then taken to ths
United States court. which decided In IA
vor OF the railroads. This decision has
jist been affirmed by the circuit court of
appeals. which holds that Montgomery
has so much larger volume OF business and
has so much greater advantage by rea-
son OF wnter competition" that the dis
smiarity OF the conditions relieves the
railroads from the duty OF complying with
tho long and short haul section OF the
lnterstate commerce law.