The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-16
/ MAXIMUM RATE
! FOR MINNESOTA
Railroad Commission Makes Tariff
| Cutting Present Rates On
Merchandise.
RAILROAD OFFICIALS
ASK TIME TO THINK
Must Show Cause Why Reduction
Is Not Reasonable, On
Feb. 1. s,,~s. i.L.

The railroad and warehouse commits
sion today presented maximum mer-
chandise tariff to officials Of Minnesota
roads and asked them to show cause
why it should not be adopted as a ba-
sis hereafter. s. -
The proposed tariff is sweeping re-
duction. There Is no uniform basis
now for merchandise rates. They are
governed by competitive conditions.
The commission took an average OF
the present distributing rates on first
class freight, made for given distances
by seven roads-the Northern Pacific,
Great Northern, 500, Great Western,
st. Louis. The proposed tariff makes
a reduction from that average Of s.33
cents, or % per cent. on ffty-mlle
haul; 1855 cents, or 20 per cent, on g
hundred-mile haul sos cents, or 18 2-3
per cent, on $50 miles; S7s cents, or Z
per cent, on 200 miles; S.13 cents, or
Is per cent, on 25o miles mile end e.sS CENTS
The railroad officials asked time to
consider the tariff, and the hearing was
continued till Feb. /. At that time
the railroads will either agree to the
rate or present evidence to show why
It should not be enforced. The COM
mission has decided that the reduction
is reasonable, and it is up to the traf-
fic officials to prove to them that 1t
Is not.
The hearing was attended by the fol-
lowing railroad representatives:
Northern Pacific. G; W. Bum, J; N. Rann ns
ford Omaha, 81. NJ. Pearce, J. g. Clark; North
Western. Marvin Hqghitt, Jr:. A. G. Johnson Johnson
p. NJ. s. n. J. B. Hanson; N: & n Wis, D: T.
Brooks; 500, W. L. Martin; Wisconsin Central.
w. & st. L., G. p. Eastman; Milwaukee, F. W.
Root, e. s. Kelley; Great Northern, R. A.
wilkinson, NJ. L. Countryman.
Mills States Proposition.
Judge Ira B. Mills, chairman Of the
commission called to order and stated
that the commission had framed max
imum rate schedule to govern rates on
first class freight. Before ordering its
adoption, the railroads would have a
chance to present objections. 1t must
not be understood that the schedule is
iron-clad.g It is q maximum rate for
given distances and lower rates may be
put in wherever necessary. The basis
Is drawn to cover distributing tariffs
all other terminal points in the state.
Distance rates between local points
might be made per cent higher.
Marvin Hughitt, Jr., freight traffic
manager for the Northwestern, said
time would be needed to study the
schedule. He did not believe 1T gave
remunerative rate, in cases where a
road has to make long haul to com
pete with short line which fixes the
tate. .,- .-.~.-
Other officials Joined In the request
for postponement, which was granted
Still Higher Than Iowa.
The proposed tariff is still 1919 PEI
cent higher than the Iowa distance tar
If, taking the average on distances "
to 400 miles. For that reason it il
considered very fair by the commission
It is also believed to be more scientific
than the Iowa tariff.
The rates on lower classes Of freight
are not touched on, but they are graded
from frst-class rates, and reduction
on drst-class means reduction in kim
on all classes Of freight in less thai
car lots.
The following table gives the rat
for each distance. The first column
gives the average Of present rates o.
seven roads. The second gives tn
Iowa distance tariff rates, and tn
third is the proposed maximum tarit
framed by the commission: