The Portland daily press., 1899-08-29
SHOULDN'T DISCRIMINATE.
Interstate Commerce Commission Rules
There should no No Difference he
tween Export and Domestic Rates.


Washington. August 2S.--Ths inter
state commerce commission today an
nounced Its decision In q case involving
relative rates on export and domestic
traffic in grain products.
The commission holds that in the abb
sence of some justifying reason II would
not be right for American railroads to
permanently transact business for for
eigners at less rata than that for which
they render corresponding service to
American citizens.
As to rates on export and domes tic
shipments of grain, the commission de.
cided:
Market conditions sometimes In case Of
wheat, but seldom In casa OF corn, may
justify an export rate through the port
Of New York somewhat lower than the
domestic rate. and Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Norfolk and Newport News usual
" 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.
ports 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 low
er on export than on domestic traffic to
enable them to compete for the export
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 carrier
rather than this commission, no order Is
made in relation to this branch of the
case. But export grain rates shoHld not
be less to the seaboard from amy point
than from any intermediate point on the
same line.
The commission holds that public poll
ny and good railway Eolioy alike seem to
require the same rate on export wheat
and expor; flour and in yiewE of all the
conditions shown In the investigation,
somewhat higher rate on export flour
than on export wheat is not In violation
of that statute. The published difference
in rates is to wide. and the rate on -four
for export should not exceed that upon
export wheat by more than 70 per 100
pounds. The relation of rates on domes-
tic shipments of flour and wheat is not
involved In this decision. as the export
and domestic freights are handled under
different conditions
: 1t further appears that carriers engaged
in the transportation of export flour from
Minneapolis at rate which 1-3 cents
less than the domestic rate to the port
of export, refuse to make any correspond
Ing concession to intermediate millers
The commission rules that this is unjust
and unlawful Discrimination against
such intermediate traffic and that what
ever line participates in such lower ex-
port rate ON -four from Minneapolis must
make corresponding rate upon similar
traffic from intermediate points.
The commission decides that rates on
export traffic must be published and
filed in accordance " it'll the proyisions of
section Of the Interstate commerce act.
IL is further held that so-oalied through
export rates made by adding the ocean
| rate, whatever 1t may be. to the inland
rail rate, whatever 1t may be, are not
analogous TO joint rates made by joint
arrangement between railway carriers
subject to the statute In the sense that
the total rate must be published and
lied. and 1t is enough II the railway
carrier publishes and maintains Its own
rate to the saaboard. But II there is in
TACT such joint arrangement that the
rates is a joint rate under the sixth Sec
tion of the act to regulate commerce. then
he entire through rate should be pub
| lished and not the inland division, which
in that case might vary while the entire
| rate remains the same.