The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-12-14

worked out practically all the details
of the agreement
By the terms of the railroad offer
Seattle merchants will be given access
to all the 0. r. N. territory on the
Puget Sound as we'll as the Portland
market.
This concession was foreshadowed
shortly after the Colfax rate hearing
lofficials, which indicated an intention
on the part Of the O. r. & N. to yield
the rates. Because of the possibility
of securing the new rates without a
fight the railroad commission has de-
layed it's formal order affirming the
view taken at the Colfax hearing.
Effect of Joint Rate.
In plain figures, the rates to be in
augurated are given by the commits
sion as follows:
The joint rate on coal to Colfax
from Roslyn will be approximately So,
which is % cents per ton less than the
joint rate Cancelled in 1902.
The rate on merchandise, first class
will be $125, as maximum to o. r. &
N. points, instead of $3.50, as made up
of the sum of the locals.
The joint rate on coarse grains re-
establishes the former joint rates be-
tween the O. R. & N and Great North
ern and now applies to the Northern
Pacific as well.
The concession covering a joint rate
on hay, grain, feed and mill stuffs does
not apply to wheat shipments from O..
r. & N. territory to Puget Sound
ports. The wheat rate is one that the
commission sidestepped in the Colfax
hearing and one that was not sought
fo:
Attention was called by the railroad
men to the fact that livestock had not
figured in the Colfax hearing and it
was declared that the concessions of
the roads would cover sucn shipments.
The wheat question was brought up
and the o. r. & N. men insisted that
rate would not be touched The o. r.
& N. threatened to fight vigorously if
an effort was made to enforce joint
rate on wheat. The matter was then
dismissed.
The joint rate on livestock was then
agreed to by means Of the railroads &C
cepting an amendment to the COM
plant
Companies Prepared to Fight.
The 0. r. & N. withdrew all Joint
rates April Is Of this year, Immediately
after the passage and approval of the
railroad commission bill. This step
was taken to prepare for the coming
road in a position to fight, if it was
decided to oppose the authority Of the
state to regulate joint rates.
Prior to that time the joint rates
were merely effective by way Of the
Great Northern from junction" points,
or those which were served by both the
Northern Pacific and o. R. & N The
rates did not give access to any more
territory than could have been reached
by the Northern Pacific alone
Under the agreement with the rail-
road commission the roads will not
only restore these rates, but will au-
thorize tariff covering all the o. R.
& N. territory Hay, grain and mill
stuffs not included even in the meager
joint rate schedule of the o. r. & N.
and Great Northern, are affected by
the new order.
The Colfax complaint prepared by
the railroad commission did not in
; clude livestock in the list of consign-
ments to be affected by any decision
handed down. In their joint rate con-
cession the railroads include livestock
and every other article that is handled
} by rail.
The new joint rate on coal from
Roslyn into the O. r. & N. territory
will be based on the Northern Pacific
SO rate into Pullman. This is a re-
duction of 25 cents a ton over the old
, rate. There has been no joint rate on
coal between the Northern Pacific and
} o. r. & N. since 1902. The rate was
} first made effective when the o. r. &
N. was largely dependent upon the
Northern Pacific for fuel and involved
an agreement on the part of the Ore
gon line to burn Roslyn coal in its To-
. comotives.
But for a real good meal go tc