Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-31
Insist Rate from Texas to the North and
East Unreasonable.
CASE PASSED UPON UNDER OLD LAW
Commissions Powers Under That Act Are
Inadequate to Enforce Ruling.
TERMINAL CHARGES ALSO CHALLENGE 0
This Case, Like the other, Had Been
Passed Upon by the commission,
but Its Orders Have Been
Ignored.
lFrom a staff correspondent. }

(From a stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Aug. sO-Cspecial Tele-
gram 1.-THE Cattle Raisers' association of
Texas has filed petition for an order Of
the commission fixing rates on cattle from
the southwest markets and northern ranges
In accordance with a decision rendered,
year ago that the rates to the exte- .
about 81 per car are too high. T a.
portance Of the case can be better ~
stood when It is considered that it amO 70,
TO over 100000 per annum and that I.
rates held to be unlawful were put in ef-
feet March S, 1903. 80 that probably the
unjust part of the rate collected. as held
by the commission, has amounted to be-
tween N,o00.Ooo and S6,0O0Oo0 already and is
steadily increasing at the rate of 100000
per month
s. II. Cowan. attorney for the Texas
sociafion and other western live stock as
sociations, presented the application TO the
commissioners OF interstate commerce, be-
ing the first one to ask for the exercise
of the rate-making power. His contention
is that there has already been full hear
ing on the complaint under section lS Of
the original Interstate commerce act and
that all the commission has to do now is
TO ofrer full opportunity for the presenta-
may denland and then decide the case upon
the whole evidence, old and new. and fix
the rate. There are many important
cases heretofore decided by the commission
which may be dealt with similarly
After Terminal Charges.
Mr.. Cowan also presented similar ap-
plication for further proceedings in the
matter OF the live stock terminal delivery
charge at Chicago. which the commission
has decided to be unlawful and ordered
the carriers to cease and desist collecting
It. The order was not obeyed and now the
cattle men and other live stock men,
through the Cattle Raisers association of
Texas and the American National Live
Stock association and the Iowa Corn Belt
Mea. Producers, are asking the commits
sion to fx terminal charge at Chicago at
q per car instead OF q per. car, This item
is small. but amounts TO 10000 per annum
! ane'abas breH eoiiccfed for ten years
The live stock associations above mem
tioped have also nled new proceedings with
the commission asking for the establish
ment of through routes and joint rates
on live stock shipped from and over the
Tezs>A a Pacific railway. That road serves
a large territory which breeds cattle and
other live stock. but will not make
live stock 20 leave its line, 1t adopted that
policy in April. 1904. and now stockmen in
the northwest states who buy cattle in
Texas and those who ship. demand a
through route and joint rate. so as to not
be compelled to pay the sum of the local
rates az junction points.
Ths commission directed service in these
eases and will set them for hearing as
soon as possible
Test of Good Faith
1T is expected that sharp contest will
be made in all of them" said Judge Cowan
today ''as in all important cases involving
q reduction OF rates The boasted desire
10 comply with the law and obey the
commissions decisions ia much on the sur
face and cheap talk. The action of the
railroads viii be very different in every
matter affecting revenue. While there are
many decisions OF the commissioners here
tofore rendered holding certain rates un-
reasonable where roads are not obeying the
order OF the commission. not one OF
them has changed their course in that par
ucular on any previous decision.
"It Is certain they viii all resist to the
limit any order Affecting adversely their
revenue; stopping rebates and discrimi-
nations Is a money maker for the railroads.
with the law in those matters but the
amount Of the rate is what hits the peoples $
pockets and that is where the railroads viii
night"
As Mr.. Cowan had much to do in drawing
the bin throughout the agitation, he
says II is gratifying TO him to be able to
present the first important demand that the
commission nx rates.
other Gases tsaIea.
Among other cases filed are The City of
Spokane The Spokane Chamber OF Com
meroe and The Spokane Jobbers Asso-
citation, against The Northern Pacific Rail-
way Company. Great Northern Railway
Company, Union Pacific Railroad Company.
Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company
and Spokane Falls a Northern Railway
Company, Complainants aver that Spokane
e from sss TO bc3 miles closer to points OF
origin and destination in the easte'n states
han Tacoma. Seattle and Portland, but
that ON almost all Interstate trafic carried
by the defendants from states eat of
Washington to Spokane the rates charged
are equal to those charged TO Seattle, Ia
coma ana Portland. plus the local rate
snarged from those cities back to Spokspe.
Il rs averred that the Spokane freight
rates largely exceed those charged ship.
pers Of any other city similarly situated,
and that goods can be shipped to cities
sompeting with Spokane. such as Butte.
Helena and Great Falls. Mont. for less
than they can be delivered at Spokane
rhe difference against Spokane is from Is
sents 20 81 per 100 pounds OF freight. and
ihsn the joboers there have to purchase
carload lots, to get carload rates, which
are given to other cities on smaller lots.
rhe contention that the favorable rates 70
seattle. Tacoma and Portland are made be-
sause Of water competition u character
zed as mere subterfuge." The petitioners
ask that the rates 10 and from Spokane
be eaualihed and that the shippers may
recover excess payments sxacted from
hem.
The 81 Louis Hay and Grain Company
against the Louisville q Nashville Railway
Company, Mobile q Ohio Railroad Com
pany, Illinois Central Railroad Company