The San Francisco call., 1899-08-29
RULINGS AS To
RAILWAY RATES
Decision of Commerce
Commission.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Aug 2S.-The Inter-
state Commerce Commission to-day an
nounced its decision in a case involving
the relative rates on export and domestic
traffic in grain and grain products.
The commission holds that in the alb
sence of some justifying reason it would
not be right for American railroads to
permanently transact business for for
eigners at a less rate than that for which
they render corresponding service to
American citizens. AS to rates on eX-
port and domestic shipments of grain the
commission decides:
Market conditions sometimes in case of
wheat but seldom in case of corn, may
justify an export rate through the port
of New York somewhat lower than the
domestic rate, and Philadelphia Baltf-
more, Norfolk and Newport News usually
take take rates which are certainly dtfferen-
tiaIs below the New York rate on both
domestic and export traffic. During the
period of closed lake navigation the ex-
port and domestic grain rates to New
should ordinarily be the same Rates to
other ports, including Boston and ports
on the Atlantic north of Boston, and Gal
weston, New Orleans and other gulf ports
may perhaps be properly made lower on
export than on domestic traffic, TO en-
able them to compete for the export bust
ness. Such an adjustment of the rates
would be to the advantage of the carrier
and just alike to the American consumer
and the American producer. But as the
problem is primarily one for the carriers
rather than this commission, no order is
made in relation to this branch of the
case. But the export grain rates should
not be less to the seaboard from any point
than from an intermediate point of the
same line.
AS to the rates on export -four as com
pared with export wheat, the commission
holds that public policy and good railway
policy alike seem to require the same rate
on export wheat and export flour, but in
view of the conditions shown in the inves-
ugation a somewhat higher rate on ex-
port flour than on export wheat is not in
violation of that statute. The published
difference in rates is too wide, and the
rate on flour for export should not exceed
that upon export wheat by more than 2
cents per 100 pounds The relation of rates
on domestic shipments of flour and wheat
is not involved in this decision, the eX-
port and domestic freights are handled
under different conditions.
1t further appeared that carriers en-
gagged in the transportation of export -four
from Minneapolis at a rate which was 115
cents less. than the domestic rate to the
port of export refuse to make any corre-
spending concession to intermediate mil
lers. The commission says that this is
unjust and unlawful discrimination
against such intermediate traffic, and that
whatever line participates in such lower
export rate on flour from Minneapolis
must make corresponding rate upon
similar traffic from intermediate points.
The commission also decides that rates
on export traffic must be published and
filed in accordance with the provisions of
section of the interstate commerce act.
1t is further held that so-called through
export rates, made by adding the ocean
rate, whatever it may be- to the inland
rail rate, whatever it may be, are not
analogous to rates made by joint arrange
ments between railroad carriers subject
to the statute in the sense that the total
rate must be published and filed. and it
is enough II the railway carrier publishes
and maintains its own rate to the sea-
board. But if there is, in fact. such a
joint arrangement that the rate is a joint
rate under the sixth section of the act to
regulate commerce, then the entire
through rate should be published and not
the inland division. which in that case
might vary while the entire rate remains
the same.