Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-10-07
LUMbERMEN
TO fight RATES
ASK COURT TO RESTRAIN new
RAILROAD RATES.
Federal Court Cites the Railroads TO
Appear to Show Cause why Re.
Sfraining Order Against New Rate s
Should Not Issue. Definite Relief
Asked For.

Asked For.
The lumbermen have taken their
fight against the proposed freight
rate advance on lumber eastbound
into the federal court. This cam
paign was commenced yesterday af-
ternoon when in the United States
circuit court Judge c. H. Hanford
signed an order citing the railroads
to appear in his court October 20 and
show cause why an order should not
issue temporarily restraining them
from putting into effect the contem-
plated advance of 10 cents until the
final hearing of the complaint, at
which time perpetual Injunction is
requested by the lumbermen.
Under the present law the inter-
state commerce commission is DOW
| erless to review a rate until it has
been put into effect. The federal
court may. if it please, enter a tenn
porary restraining order pending the
reviewing of the case by the inter-
state commerce commission, or it may
keep the matter in it's own hands,
either restraining the effectiveness of
the proposed rate until final hearing
is had, or allowing the collection of
the rate during the pending of the
litigation and accepting bond from
the railroad company to cover moneys
collected in freights in excess of the
present rate, to be refunded in case
the final decision by the commission
and the court is favorable to the
lumber manufacturers.
The defendants named in the COM
plant are the Northern Pacific rail-
way company, Great Northern Rail-
way company, Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy Railroad company, Oregon
Railroad & Navigation company,
Short Line Railroad company and the
Union Pacific Railroad company.
1t is set forth in the complaint that
the defendants have, by concurrent
action, combination and conspiracy,
agreed to advance rates on forest
products, in pursuance of under
standings lin restraint of interstate
trade and in violation of the Sher-
man antitrust act and acts amenda-
tory thereof, and in violation of the
act of February 4, 1887, known as
an act to regulate commerce."
Defendants have, by differentials
practically prohibitive, it is contend
ed, divided the territory up in such
a way that each absolutely dominates
traffic in it's own particular territory.
The value of the lumber trade to
the state of Washington is given as
100000 annually. Ninety
thousand employees are engaged in it's
various branches, earning wages ag-
gregating $60,00O,OOO, while the an
nual cut is 4,0O0,OOO,0O0 feet, of
total value of $65, 100000. The val
ue of the shingles manufactured an
nually is given at $17,OOO,OO0. The
complaint states that $25,OOO,OOO is
paid out in freights by the lumber
industry in the state.
The present rates are quoted, and
a table inclosed showing the advances
in detail to the different points in the
East. The difficulty of competing
with other woods, it is alleged, owing
to the high freight rates, has shut
the lower grades of Washington lum-
Der out of the Eastern markets, caus-
ing a waste annually of $4,000 car
loads, valued at $23,000,00O, of
smaller timber.
Figures are quoted showing that
the lumber traffic provided 27.SOI
per cent. of the gross earnings of the
Great Northern, and 1915 per cent
of the gross earnings of the Northern
Pacific. 1t is contended that the ex-
listing rate is profitable, in view of
the comparative cheapness of the
lumber haul.
Setting out that the proposed ad-
vance is to the amount of 10 cents
per hundred pounds to st. Paul, Den
yer and Chicago, ~ cents to st.
Louis, and cents to Omaha and
Kansas City, the complaint goes on
to contend that the advance will
greatly injure, and to large extent
destroy the lumber industry in the
state" and will "work serious det-
riment to the public interest"
1t is further complained that the