The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-06-20

ALCOHOL RATE
Complaints Filed by Railway
Commission

SALEM. Or, June 20.-The state
railway commission of Oregon has
filed a complaint with the interstate
commerce commission in behalf of
dealers in and shippers of denatured
alcohol in Oregon. The hrst com
plant filed with the state railway
commission was that of L. Levinger,
druggist of Baker City, who COM
planned of the excessive charges made
on shipments of denatured alcohol
from Chicago to Baker City.
After taking the matter up with the
o. r. & n. Co the commission was in
formed that denaturing alcohol should
take the same rate as any other kind
of alcohol, as the transcontinental
provision for alcohol is unqualified
Sixteen railway companies, in
Guiding all that have their coast ter
minals in the Pacific northwest. are
named as defendants. The complaint
is filed as ''in behalf of dealers in and
shippers of denatured alcohol, trans
ported by defendants from Chicago,
Ill, and Missouri river common points
% north Pacific coast terminals, in
Guiding Portland, Astoria, Albina and
other points in the state of Oregon
The gist of the complaint is con-
tanned in the third article, which, in
effect is as follows:
THAT defendants maintain for the
transportation of alcohol of all kinds
including denatured alcohol, rate of
IS cents per 100 pounds, in carloads,
and S125 per 100 pounds in less than
carloads. from Chicago, H., and Mis-
souri, river common points to north
Pacific coast terminals. That such
rate on denatured alcohol is unreason-
able and unjust, in consideration of the
services performed and unduly pre-
judicial to dealers and shippers of de-
natured alcohol. That there is no just
reason why denatured alcohol should
be put in the same class and accord
ed the same rate as proof alcohol.
That denature alcohol, because it is
cheap in price and is used for entirely
different purposes than said proof al
cohol, should take a lower rate than
proof alcohol That denatured alcO-
hol, owing to recent encouragement and
development, can be manufactured
quite cheaply and is being more
largely used daily as a necessity for
fuel and other purposes. That no in
ternal revenue tax is levied on dena-
tured alcohol whereas proof alcohol is
so taxed to the extent of 50 per gal
lon. That denatured alcohol is used
as a household article for fuel and
other external purposes, whereas proof
alcohol is used mainly in medicinal
and other beverage preparations in
tended for internal application. That
at said unreasonable carload S5-cent
rate and L. C. l.. $1.25 rate, denatured
alcohol is compelled to pay about II
cents a gallon carload, and IS cents
per gallon less than carload for such
! transportation to said Oregon points.
That such charge also works unjust
discrimination against the traffic in
denatured alcohol and should be
| changed"
Violation of the statute is charged
| in that the defendant roads ARE sub
jecting shippers and dealers to unjust
discrimination and are giving to the
traffic in proof alcohol and dealers in
and shippers of it unreasonable adj
! vantage"
The state commission prayS that
the interstate commerce commission
make an order commanding defend
ants to cease from the aforesaid viola
lions of law that a further order be
en- cred fixing such a maximum rate
as will be just and reasonable; that
the commission prescribe such rules
and regulations as will prevent the
| continuance Of the exactiOns"