The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1905-10-13
JOINT RATE QUESTION
Will Be Settled at the COlfax
Meeting.
VIII Assume the Proportions Of q
General Trial of the
Railroads.

Tacoma, Wash, Oct. Ga. Faircbild
and John s. McMilln, members of the
state railroad commission. announ,e
that all complaints OF shippers about
refusal OF railroads TO grant Joint rates
Will be heard at the COlfax meeting. The
original scope of the hearing has been
wldened so that il will assume the nro-
portions OF general trial of railroads in
the state for alleged unfair treatment of
shippers in every section.
The commission were in the city Frida
| In conference with representatives. of the
Northern Pacific railroad company and
| before leaving the city stated that their
business here was only of a general
routine character, that while some
general questions were discussed their
purpose was to bring to the attention of
railroad officials some specific matters of
minor Importance, in pursuance OF the
general policy of the board to first bring
all complaints to the attention of traffic
officials, in an effort to aid the simmer
and carrier III getting together in such A
way as TO enable them to amicably ad.
Just their own differences il possible.
inquiry was made about the proceed
lngs Just instituted against different
roads to enforce the establishment of
joint rates. The commissioners said
that the hearing called for at Colfax was
Tor the purpose of inquiring into the
fairness and reasonabIeness OF rates.
rules and regulations now in force, not
only IN reference to the shipment of coal
from ROslyn to COlfax, but also those
governing the shipment of merchandise
from Puget sound points on the North
ern Pacific railway and Great Northern
railway TO points in southeastern Wash
ington and on the o. II Il n, and on
farm products on points on the o. r. &
N. to points on Puget sound.
They stated that several complaints
had been made to the commission that
connecting lines refused to fix the Joint
through rate, that local rates now in
force were unfair and unreasonable to
the shippers and consumers, and that
the hearing contemplated was for the
purpose OF determining these questions.
Hearing for All Complaints.
"What about the alleged abandon
ment Of the pending Colfax suit?" was
suggested.
mo action had been commenced.
hence there was none to be abandoned.
said MIR. Farchild. I'VE have aband-
Oned nothing, we have simply widened
the scope of the hearing to include
subsequent complaints on file with us.
A written complaint had been made to
us that the present local rates on coal
from ROslyn to COlfaX were unjust and
discriminatory and, as required by law,
we directed that formal complaint be
prepared and served on the Northern
Pacific and the o. r & n. roads, notify
ing them OF the charges made and in.
dicating date for the hearing. Before
this complaint was ready, however,
several other complaints we're lodged
with us, involving the reasOnableness of
other local rates on connecting lines and
the refusal OF such lines TO establish Joint
rates, and we therefore determined to
have all complaints involving the ques
tion OF joint rates considered at one time
and passed upon at one hearing. The
citation issued yesterday notifies the
different roads that not only the Colfax
rate question, but that of other charges
concerning the failure and refusal of
roads to establish joint rates would be
heard at one and the same time in
Colfax."
Did Not Chase Mr.. Hill.
When asked for facts relative to stories
recently printed in Seattle papers regard
ing the relations of the commission and
James j. Hill they said:
"We presume you saw Mr.. Hills own
denial of the story, and it seems hardly
necessary for US to notice it futher. Be-
sides Mr.. Fairchid denied it fully over
his own signature"
"DO you mean to say that the whole
story which appeared in the Seattle
papers in one form or another for several
consecutive days relative to you gentle
men and Mr.. Hill was manufactured and
untrue?" asked the reporter.
"We regret to enter upon the subject
at all, but you have expressed the exact
truth"
what do you think was the motive
of the papers in incorporating you and
also Mr.. Hill2''
"We have no idea," said Mr.. Fairchid.
"It was stated in the first article that
both McMillin and myself had come to
Seattle for the purpose of meeting Mr..
Hill and discussing official matters with
him, expecting to consume two days in
such consideration. As a matter of fact
McMillin now lives in Seattle and did not
come there at all at the time indicated,
and neither OF US knew that Mr.. Hill and
party were in Seattle until we learned it
TOu Tue hTJlCle HenIlODeu UDe next OAYy
after Mr.. Hill and his party had been
entertained at the Rainer club and were
preparing to leave for Tacoma"
"Then you did not chase from one
hotel to another for the purpose Of seek
ing an interview with him and were not
snubbed by him?'
"No," said Mr.. McMillin. "Not knowing
he was there We couldn't have pursued
the course suggested.
"No communication of any kind by
letter or otherwise, was passed, or at
tempted to be passed. by either OF the
commissioners to Hill, or to any men,
Der of his party, nor by any OF them to
US. Mr.. Hill himself has taken the
trouble to deny the story and 70 express
surprise at such statements. No wonder
be would resent it, as it charged him
with treating public officials of this state
with great discourtesy and contempt,
which every one knows could not be
true, as Mr. Hill is. first of all, gentle
man"
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy AbsO
Iutely Harmless.