The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-01

THE Northern Pacific Railway COM
pany will obey and conform to the rates
named IN the railroad rate bill passed
by the last Washington legislature. While
the company. feels that the present rates
are as low. considering all the conditions.
as the rates in any other part of the
United States. and the reduction means
quite loss of revenue to the railroads,
still the Northern Pacific company has a
great interest in the prosperity of this
state and its people. and desires to do its
full share in promoting that prosperity.
In effect on June . the reduced rates on
wheat and other agricultural products
moved locally in this state.
THE company believes that Washing
ton is on the eve of a period of prosper
ity. which II hopes that its action at this
time will hasten and promote. and its
action in this respect gives evidence of
its wish to serve the interest of the peo-
PIE and work in harmony with them
The above important statement was
given out for publication last night by
{. w Bum. general counsel of the North
ern Pacific at St Paul. Mr. Bum was
asked Saturday If his road intended to
conform with the railroad BILL known as
House Bill No. AT. by Canu.t. which was
passed by the legislature March II, the
last day of the session, and which tas
approved by the governor March H. Re
plying to the question OF the Post fnteiif-
gencer reporter. Mr.. Bum said that he
would be ready to give ont a statement
on Monday. after communicating by wire
with President Edwin Winter. The above
statement was the result. and was gwen
out by Mr.. Bum last night.
From the adjournment OF the ierisIa-
ture until the present time the officials
of the railroad company had given no
indication as to the policy the railroad
would pursue relative to the reduction
in freight rates. The rates put in force
by the bill infict heavy loss on the
coinpany's business as compared with
those in effect at present. The decrease
in revenue has not been estimated. but
it is known that it will amount TO sew
eral hundreds of thousands annually The
reduction in wheat from the Palouse
country. which amounts 10 $40 per car
will cause decrease In revenue from
that source. and consequent saving 10
the. farmers of upwards OF 100000. AT
present the rate on wheat from the Pa
s425. The reduction on fruit. dairy pro-
ducts. vegetables, feed, hops and hay Is
Il per cent. from present rates
During the session OF the legislature.
when the freight bill was under considera-
tor. the attorneys and other representa-
tives OF the railroads of the state were
present at meetings of the joint commit
tee on railroads One of these sittings
was held February -. lasting the whole
day. The statement was made that the
business Of the roads would not Justify
a reduction of rates. and facts and figures
were produced in support of the conten-
ton. At that time the house rail-
road committee had reported a bill max
ing the rate on wheat from the PaIouse
50 50 per tor. a reduction Of 81 - per ton
from the rate in force. and horizontal
cut Of q per cent on farm products. In
this form the bill passed the house. but
IL was amended in the senate. being final
iy passed by that body in much n1iiier
form than when IL was passed by fha
house After n long fight in conference
committee Of the two bodies. the bill
was finally passed on the last day of the
session.
or course the company had the alter
native OF submitting TO the bill or OF
fighting Il on legal and constitutional
grounds. The announcement that the
Northern Pacific will conform TO the bill
and VIII put the new rates into effect
June g. closes the chat pier as far as that
road Is concerned. and indicates that the
other lines " III adopt a similar policy.