The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-12-21

Senator Hepburn has introduced
bill IN the Senate to amend section fou
Of the Interstate Commerce Act unde
which railroads are being allowed t
charge more for a short than a Ion,
haul. The bill is as follows:
THAT it shall be unlawful for AM
common carrier subject to the proyis
ions ,pf this Act, to charge or receive an,
creator compensation for the transporta
ton Of passengers or Of like kinds [o
property for . shorter than longer
distance over the same line in the same
direction, the shorter being included
within the longer distance; but this
shall not be construed as authorizing
any common carrier within the terms Of
this Act to charge or receive as great
compensation for a shorter than long
or distance"
/. This bill is Of the utmost importance
to the people ofithe entire country. In
fact iti is second in Importance only
to the great railroad rate bill. that Twas
given such prolonged consideration Tin
Congress lastsspring. No other ques-
tien before the country at this time
rneans SO much to the whole interior Of
the United States, .and no2other section
Of the United States is more vitality in
terested than the State OF Idaho.
Senator Heyburn's bill represents, the
existing controversy between the ship
pers Of the different parts Of the country
Under the existing law the railroads may
charge greater rate to intervening
points than is charged to terminal
points ON the same line and under SINH
lar conditions. This Of course, has re-
suited in concentrating an undue pro-
portion Of the business and wealth Of the
country around the seaboard, and has
drawn the manufacturing business large
ly from the interior parts Of the country
where they would in many cases be To-
Gated, freight advantages being equal.
For instance railroads now charge to
Boise, Spokane and other inland points
the thru rate from points like Chicago
and st. Louis to Seattle, Tacoma and
Portland plus the local rate from sthe
coast cities back to Boise or Spokane.
This is merely an instance OF the injus-
tice being practiced, and applies equally
to all points on both coasts Of the Unit
ed States. OF course, this is done under
the claim that water competition COM
pels the railroads to give coast points
cheaper rates than they otherwise
would do. Senator Hepburn claims
that there is no justification for this ar
gument. The present schedules are
especially unjust to the producing cent
res Of the country, and deprives them of
the natural advantage Of their location.
Senator Heyburnibrot this matter to
the attention Of Congress last spring,
but on account Of his extended illness
was unable to push it to successful is
sue. He has taken it up again and evil
IDENTIFY intends to do his best to.xhave
his bill enacted into law. The rate bill
settled the question Of discrimination
between persons in the same :place. It
made rebates.unlawful and imposed a
penalty for a violation Of the Act. But
the rate bill made no provision against
discrimination between firm in Boise
Or Spokane and firm on the coast.
This is what Senator Hepburn is trying
10 remedy. @
Congressman French has introduced
,ill in Congress that is..much Importance
Ind interest to many persons living in
he northern part Of Idaho. The bill
provides for classification OF all lands
n that portion of the State that have
lot already been classified as to their {
'eing either mineral or non mineral. AS Y
many settlers are on these lands and as
hey are being contested inl the land
'ffice by the railroad, it is very import
mt that classification be made Jas soon
IS possible. Some work Has already
zen done in this matter Of classified S
ion, and Mr.. French's bill provides that q
his work shall be pushed to an early G
The bill will be referred to t
be Committee on Public Lands, of v
'hich Mr. French is member. t
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