The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-30
RATE CASE ARGUED.
They DO Sof So Much Want Lower
Rates 10 Spokane n Taey Do
Hisher Rates tn Coast Terminsis.
bss the Railroads Have Water
Case Confinu ned Until Tomorrow.

The hearing OF tire arguments On the
Awnings % fact and conclusions Of law OF
Judge Lorenzo 8. b. Sawyer. NJ San Fran
cisco, special master in cssRncery appoint
-. 20 take evidence in the matter OF the
petition OF Holly, Mason, Mark e. Co.
.; sl4 merchants Of Spokane, commenced
yesterday morning in the Federal e0urt
before Judge Hsnford- The petition -
.aaao part Of the case OF the Farmers
Loan e. Trust Company - al vs. the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company ct al.
end Is one OF the most conspicuous legal
features of the closing out o. Inc Ola
company and tho reorganization O. tie
rev. Its various phases have from time
10 tine been fully set forth iE the Post
Intelligence and cofnpra hensve review
OF II. contained IN tire fuH report OF the
master ia chaacery. was published upon
TIE receipt Of the voiam!nous documents
Sn shIs city.
The morning session was consumed by
frank Graves, of Spokane, representing
the petitioners. The points upon which
tire controversy hangs arc those charged
AGAINST the railroads as common carriers
~ which unjust discrimination is made 20
appear az against shippers of Spokane
ur.a In favor of Pacific coast terminals.
The roads have coniended that wniie me
rata 20 Pacific coast terminals We're
lower than those To Spokane. s.c differ
petition The interstate commerce COM
nsisslon WAS invoked. ard its rulings IN the
csss VIII be ono OF the matters upon when
Assignment viii be passed.
The report Of the master IN rhancery
sustained the attitude taken In the argn-
raenf By the railroads. and to this report
Mr. Graves excepted, both as 20 findings
and conclusions. The entire document
was Included IN Mr.. Graves exceptions.
In tire afternoon 5ae attorneys FOR the
Northern Pacific TOOK up a line of argu-
ssent fl gupgor. of the report OF the mas
srY in rhanccrg OaA of the arguments
brought UP the question OF whether the
decisions OF the interstate commerce com
mission are administrative or judicial
holding that opinions rendered by the
commission are administrative and require
Judicial endorsement by Federal court.
!. great deal ~ the testimony Of the hear
.ags by Judge Sawyer was gone over. and
the statement Was made that spokane
merchants did rot thiuk that the rates
given hy the reads from the Eas. TO Spo-
kare are too high. but that the rates given
to Pacific coast terminais-are too low. This
aspect OF the case MAKES the petition ap-
pear Tot as one for lower rates TO Spokane.
bur for higher rates 10 the Coast. The at
torneys for the road stated that ia car
riers would raise the rates TO the Coast
were II not for water competition. The
statement was also made that the Spokane
merchants must prove the unjust discrim-
nation against that city In tho face OF the
probieni OF water competition.
In the even. OF the court sustaining the
exceptions filed by Mr. Graves the roads
would be compelled to adjust the rates CIV
Ing to Spokane fiat rate on car load ship
ments Of Sc per cent OF the Pacific coast
terminal rates. In the event Of the court
oyerruiing the petition the Spokane rate
case, an II has become known will prob
ably be part OF the legal history OF the
Sorthwes. in Just the condition the circuit
court Of the Ninth judicial district leaves
It.
Tho Northern Pacific railroad was repre-
scented yesterday by William A. Under
wood. OF New York. and c. w. Bum gem
erai counsel OF the road at St Paul. NJ. d.
Grover. of ct. Paul. general solicitor of
the Great Northern railway. was also In
attendance but did not speak yesterday
The case win be continued tomorrow. and
will probably be finished during the after
neon. when the court will take 1t under ad-
visement.