The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-22
SPOKANE RATE CASE.
Proceedings Begun Against Great Nor
fharD a w eli IL Nn-.i norm plcLfic.

tharu aS Well IA Northern Pacific.
Not content 20 await the Issue of their
case aga&nSt the Northern Pacific ROW in
Judge hanforG's hands for a decision. the
merchants Of Spokane have begun similar
proceedings against me Great Northern.
ami with the same object in View viz, Of
compelling the railroads % grant 10 Spo-
pane the same rates from thu East as
those accorded 70 Seattle. Tacoma and
Portland.
II has been understood al along that ths
Great Northern was really involved in tho
case against The Northern Pacific. since
If the latter road could be compelled 10
make new rates from Eastern points 10
Spokane. the Great Northern would. in
sorf-defense. have to offer the same rates.
So thoroughly was this understood that
General Solicitor Grover. OF the Great
Northern took fully as much interest in
the Northern Pacific hearing before the
SPECIAL master as did the Northern Pacific
attorneys themselves. attending personally
the s.ttiags IN Spokane. Seattle. Tacoma
ard Portland. and taking part ii the ex-
animation Of witnesses.
Il IS not. therefore. clear jus; what nd
vantage the new suit VIII bring 20 the
c0nplainants. Allowing for the partial
ity OF city pride. sSil il was thought by
the railroads that the Spokane people made
O weak showing before the special mas
ter. while the recent decision OF a parallel
case by United States District Judge Par
Gee At New Orleans. in which he held
against the inland town. seems TO create
a precedent aga.nst them.
Nevertheless, the Spokane merchants
have begun a distinct suit against the
Great Northern, asking that tina, road be
compelled 70 grant them terminal freight
rates, which they aaege were promised
them bv President James J. Hill in 1892
In default II this they ask that Mr.. Hin
a er4Rr Z
other citizens Of Spokane donated 30 the
company. the value Of which in property,
is estimated By them al about $50aeo0
This suit was commenced in Spokane
last Friday by the fling In the circuit
court Of a bill In equity, In which the St
Paul. Minneapolis & Manitoba Ra way
Comnany and the Great Northern Railway
Company are defendants. Il covered about
thlrty-six typewg.tten pages. In effect il
PRAYED the court that the road be COM
PEELED 10 a specific performance Of the
contract made by Mr.. Hill regarding CIV
ing the city terminal freight rates. or that
Il reconvey 10 the citizens VINO subscribed
10 he right-0f-wey fund the properly OF
The right-of-way. \ subpoena VAS prayed
for commanding the defendants 10 az pear
in court and show cause why such a de-
cree should not be entered.
" lille the action is brought by those
who subscribed - the right-of-way fund,
says the Spokesman Review. the Ship
pers' Association is directly behind the
movement.
Following are the Plaintiffs in the Rc-
ton: F. Lewis Clark. Hera,io y. Bet.
Daniel VI. DrumheIer, William 5. Nor
man. HoEey Mason. Marks & Co. WASH
ington Water Power Company Inland Tel
e,ephore and Telegraph Co. r /.
don & Co. Jones & Dillingham;. Berham
& Griffith. y. Holman x Co. Grey, Ew-
ing & CO. and John W. Graham * Co.