The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-01-14
SPOKANE EXPECTS
LIVELY BATTLE
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE cAnL.

SPOKANE, Jan. 13.-Business men Of
Spokane are girding themselves for
battle royal when the Interstate Com
merce Commission cOnvenes here Mon
day. The Chamber Of Commerce and
the Spokane Jobbers' Association have
the matter IN hand, and the munich
pality is aiding them through the City
Attorney and a substantial cash grant
for the conduct Of the case. The sit
ings are expected to last at least two
days.
Washington dispatches say the COM
mission via be represented by Charles
A. PrOuty OF Vermont. Franklin X.
Lane and A. r. Hardness.
The question at issue is Spokane's
demand for reedjustment OF trans
continental freight rates so that the
Spokane country viii be on a parity
with Portland and Puget Sound ter
minals. Spokane pays in the majority
OF instances higher rates on transconti-
mental freight than do Portland and
Sound terminals. although the haul is
900 miles shorter. The defense. in a nut
shell, is that railroads are justified In
charging the lower rate for the longer
haul because OF the competition OF
water haul
EVIDENCE Is DESTROYED
Tt is charged that since the announce
ment that the commission would sit
here the railroad companies have been
industriOusly covering UP evidence.
The Great Northern Railroad carted a
large quantity of records covering it's
business prior to 1904 to the Spokane
city crematory where the books and
papers were consumed. officials Of
other roads declare that no records
have been destroyed save those FIVE
years or more old. and that this was
simply following ordinary practice.
Several railroad men admit the hear
ing is likely to result favorably to
Spokane. One official said: There is
a belief prevalent among at least some
railroad men that Spokane will carry
its point The district viii probably
secure a reduction on less than carload
lots. but / do not believe the commits
sion viii touch the carload lot sched-
ule. II is the history Of State and
interstate commerce commissions that
they DO only little things that the
railroads do not greatly oppose But
Spokane viii find that IL has not great
" benefited itself by getting a reduc-
ton on less than carload lots so long
as the carload lots rate remains I'M
changed"
T. IA Donnelly Of Helena, Mont. viii
be attorney for the Northern Pacific
before the commission. he is promi-
nent among the lawyers trained as ex-
perts on the rate question, and his
knowledge of the subject is declared to
excel that OF any rate clerk in the
company's employ,
Edward J. Cannon, attorney for the
Northern Pacific in the Spokane coun-
try. does not expect to devote much
time 10 the hearing. W. W. Cotton, at
torney for the o. r. & n. and Union
Pacific at Portland, viii represent his
lines before the commission.
Merritt J. Gordon, local counsel for
the Great Northern, has the matter in
hand for the Hill line.
Brooks Adams OF Boston VII con-
duct the case for the Spokane Chamber
OF Commerce and Jobbers' Association
assisted by II. NJ Stephens of this city
J. n. Geraghty. City Attorney, will act
with Adams and Stephens.
AWAITING THE COMMISSION
The attorneys for the city DO not
expect the railroads will introduce evil
dence at the hearing, but that they
Will reserve their testimony until the
commission reaches the coast The
commission viii probably go from
Spokane TO Portland. thence to Seattle
and take evidence at each point
Suppressed excitement prevails at the
railroad Offices IN anticipation OF the
hearing No subpenas wall be issued
until the arrival OF the commissioners.
Local railroad men expect TO be called
as witnesses, and this probably viii be
the case. as W. W. Cotton, attorney
for the o. r. q n. and Union Pacific,
1-as declined to furnish certain infor-
nation deemed essential TO the estab-
lishment of Spokane's case, and evf-
dence viii be required in the effort 10
establish these points. The Great
Northern and Northern Pacific have
supplied information desired. and IL is
possible no officials OF these lines will
re rallied as witnesses