The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-29

WASHINGTON, Aug 2S.-The inter
state commerce commission today an
ncunced its decision in case involving
relative rates on export and domestic
traffic in grain and grain products. The
commission holds that in the absence of
some justifying reason it would not be
right for American railroads to perma-
nently transact business for foreigners
at a less rate than that for which they
render corresponding service to Ameri-
can citizens. AS to rates on export and
domestic shipments of grain the commits
SIGN decides:
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 Bal
ally take rates which are certain differ
entails 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
York and the other ports mentioned
should ordinarily be the same. Rates to
other ports, including Boston and ports
on the Atlantic, north of Boston and
Galveston, New Orleans and other Gulf
ports, may perhaps be properly made
lower on export than on domestic traffic,
business. Such an adjustment of 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 rates should not be
less to the Seaboard from any point than
from any intermediate point on the same
line.
AS to the rates on export flour as COM
pared with export wheat, the commission
holds that public policy and good rail-
way policy alike seem to require the same
rate on export wheat and export -four
but in view of all the conditions shown
In the investigation, a somewhat higher
rate on export 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 two cents per 100 pounds. The
relation of rates on domestic shipments
Of flour and wheat is not involved in this
decision, as the export and domestic
freights are handled under different con-
ditions.
1t further appears that carriers en-
gagged in the transportation of export
flour from Minneapolis at a rate which is
one and half cents less than the do
mestic rate TO the port of export, refuse
to make any corresponding concession to
intermediate millers The commission
rules that this is unjust. and unlawful
discrimination against such intermediate
Irdn1C, ana tn3t Whatever line partlcl-
pates in such lower export rate on -four
from Minneapolis must make CORE
spending rate upon similar traffic from In
termediate points.
The commission also decides that rates
on export traffic must be published and
filed, in accordance with the provisions
of section S, of the Interstate commerce
act. 1t is further held that so-called
through export rates, made by adding
the ocean rate, whatever 1t may be to
the inland rail rate, whatever it may be,
are not ambiguous to joint rates made
by joint arrangement between. railway
carriers, subject to the statute in the
sense that the total rate must be pub
islled and fired, and it is enough if the
railway carrier publishes and maintains
its own rate to the seaboard. But if
there IS, in fact, such joint arrange
nent that the rate is 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 the case might vary,
while the entire rate remains the same.