The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-23
UP TO THE COURTS.
Interstate Commerce Ruling In St.
CIOud Case.

Interstate Commerce Ruling In ST.
CIOud Case.
The Northern Pacific has received the
full text Of the interstate commerce COM
mission decision against the road In the
matter Of the action brought by the
Tileston Milling company, of st. Cloud,
last summer to compel the introduction
of proportionate rates on the through
rates to Duluth. The road, In order to
save an empty haul, made the same rates
as the Duluth short lines for the long
haul via st. Cloud and Little Falls to
Duluth. Intermediate rates were left on
the old basis and the Tileston Milling
company brought action to secure lower
rates, basing their argument on the fact
that low through rates were in effect.
In supplementing its statement Of fact
the interstate commission says;
THAT In the case under consideration
there Is q discrimination, and a grieYous
discrimination, owing to its disparity in
rates, cannot be denied. The rate on
more than from Minneapolis. Princeton
or Elk River This difference in rates Is
often equal to two or three times the
profit which the miller makes in the
grinding of flour. A considerable part of
the wheat which is ground at the mill OF
the complainant, and at the other mills
at or near St Cloud, is local wheat. AS
a result of this difference in rate this
wheat Is worth some cents a bushel less
in ST. Cloud than in Minneapolis, or at
Princeton, or at Elk River. This must
mean a difference Of fully 81 per acre in
the net product of land in the vicinity Of
St. Cloud, as compared with the net prod
uCt Of land near Princeton or Elk River
The whole case of the Northern Pacific
is carefully reviewed by the commission,
which gives the road credit for all It's
good arguments. Yet the report says:
This defendant railroad carries an in
significant amount of through business
from st. Paul to Duluth and must derive
therefrom an insignificant revenue, In
order to obtain this revenue it introduces
practice which may demoralize the
rate situation in that whole territory.
We do not think, having due regard to its
interests as Well as the interests of the
public, that this should be permitted"
The Northern Pacific urged that the
rate from st. Cloud was reasonable in
and Of itself, but the commission saws
a rate can seldom be considered Sin and
or itself" 1t must almost Invariably be
considered in relation to and in connec-
ton with other rates. ~ --s =
The commission then decided in favor
OF the Tileston Milling company, the com
plainant.. 80
General Traffic Manager J. M. Hanna
Iord' OF the Northern Pacific; who was
prominent figure in the hearing of the
case before the interstate commission
IN st. Paul last summer, was seen yes.
leiHay ana asked for a statement of the
probable action of the road with refer
ence to the adverse decision. Said he:
Ihe matter left my hands when the
commission took the testimony under -ad-.
'Vlsement. L suppose the road can now
go ahead without changing the rates and
await acuon on the part or the courts =
The legal department will take the sub
Ject In hand and in case It appears thae
the courts will probably sustain our posi-
tlon VIII await further action from the
other side
NO statement is made from the legal
department, but it is considered that the
Northern Pacific will not make. changes
IN the rates to accommodate the decision
or the commission until sbressaIre- ia ssap-
piled, when the case will be fought. out