The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-12-22
RIEBTAIE COMMISSIONERS =
VISIT COAST IN JANUAH.
Inquiry Started in Minneapolis
bv Commissioners Lane and
Harlan Whole Commission
VIII Later Go Over Evidence
and Recommend a Remedy.

eiiio Northwest early in January to
make personal investigation OF the car
shortage. Although the commission
is unoff1cially advised of the difficult
ties experienced BY Oregon and Wash
ington shippers, it has had no official
complaint from that section. The
commercial interests of Seattle are
now preparing case against the rail-
roads, particularly as regards lumber,
and the Washington railroad commits
sion is gathering data to be submitted
to Mr.. Lane. No complaints have
been received from Portland, Tacoma,
Spokane or other important shipping
oenters. Mr.. Lane hopes to receive
the assistance of interested parties
while making the investigation, for his
report will form basis of future ac-
ton by the interstate commerce COM
mission.
Will Dig to the Bottom.
The exact dates on which Mr.. Lane
will hold hearings in Portland and
other Northwestern cities have not yet
been fixed. He, with Commissioner
Harlan, are this week holding hearings
at Minneapolis and Chicago. Com
missioner Lane will leave Washington
the first week in January and proba-
bly, begin his inquiry in Idaho, work.
ing west through Spokane to Seattle
and Tacoma, and thence to Portland.
Whether he will visit other Oregon
cities is yet to be decided. He is de-
termined, however, to 90 to the bot
tom of the Car shortage In so far as it
affects these three states, and will de-
vote all the time necessary to make
the Investigation complete. Opportu-
nifty will be given all shippers who
have suffered because of lack Of ade-
quate transportation facilities to put
in their complaints.
At Boise, the coal shortage will
probably occupy most Of the time, for
Mr.. Lane will endeavor to ascertain to
what extent the present shortage Of
cosl is due to inadequate transporta-
ton facilities. The same will be true
at Spokane and in Ger trail Washing
ton. Seattle's chief complaint, SO far
as known, comes from lumber ship
pers, who assert that they have been
unable to market their product be-
cause the railroads have given prefer
ence to higher classes Of freight.
Cannot Decide Until Spring.
The Investigation, however, will
cover not only the complaints Of lum-
bermen and people who have been I in
jured by the coal shortage, but the
complaints of farmers whose grain and
fruit have spoiled because of their in
ability to get it to market.
At Minneapolis, subpoenas have
been issued for responsible railroad
officials and for prominent shippers
whose interests have been affected,
and others having knowledge Of the
subject will be permitted to testify.
,The same course will probably be fol.
lowed in the Northwest, 30 that Mr..
Lane can get at the facts from the
standpoint Of both shippers and rail-
roads. When the report is made, the
Interstate commerce commission will
sit as body and consider the evidence
with a view to outlining some plan of
relief. However, tt will be well into
spring before the subject will b In
shape for action. .--,z..zs.-
Having lived q long time in the
Northwest, Mr.. Lane is somewhat IA
miliar with that section. He does
not understand why complaints Of car
shortage have not been made to the
commission by the people OF Washing
ton, Idaho and Oregon, but hopes to
receive their hearty cooperation when
he goes there on his official mission
Two special agents are now gathering
information in Washington, the state
railroad commission Is engaged in the
same mission and the commercial In
terests of Seattle are preparing q com-
plant, all Of which will be considered
during the Investigation in that state.
If like data can be gathered in Ore
gon and Idaho, it will aid materially
when hearings begin.
Standard Oil Divdsnd |
New York, Dec. 18.-Among the l.
500 persons who are fortunate enough
to be stockholders Of the Standard Oil
Company there was distributed Satur-
day $40, GOO, 600, representing q quar-
- q e1r.