The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-01-15
GREAT RATE Fight
BEGINS IN SPOKANE
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Takes Up Charges
Against Roads.
EFFECTS OF THE ACTION
MAY BE FAR-REACHING
Attorney for Plaintiffs, in Open
ing, Scores Hill for His
Use of Power.

= SPOKANE. Wash. Jan. ia battle
over freight rates. the result of which
may affect Wholesale centers all over the
Nation. began here this morning before
Charles Prouty and Franklin II. Lane. 1t
is the suit OF the City of Spokane, the
Chamber OF Commerce and the Spokane
Jobbers' association against the Great
Northern, the Northern Pacific. the o. r
& N and allied railway lines.
The complaint charges unjust discrimi-
shipped from Eastern points TO Spokane
being based on the through rate from the
East TO the Pacific coast plus the return
rate from the coast 10 Spokane.
Contention Of Shippers.
The shippers OF this city contend that
II is unjust 10 charge more TO maui goods
TO this city than TO haul them through
coast. The railways and the wholesale
dealers of coast cities contend that the
lower rate Is justified by danger that
wafer competition would throw the traf-
higher rates. II is also contended chat
TO adopt the principle Of recurring rates
from the interior points 10 Spokane TO
be equal TO or less than the rates 10 tne
coast might revoutionizc the jobbins trade
all over the country. the system OF giVing
lower rates 10 coast cities being general
Spokane is represented in the rate hght
by Brooks Adams OF Boston, II. NJ. Ste
phens and Corporation Counsel j. M.
t;eraEhty of This city. The railways are
represented by a strong corps OF legal
advisers, IL being estimated that 700 or
200 attorneys have been enlisted in one
manner or another in this case. The
hearing is expected to last TWO days and
may be followed by supplementary hear
lngs in the coast cities.
Big Array Of Talent.
A. 1910 m. Commissioners, Prouty
called the case Of the CITY OF Spokane Us vs.
the Northern Pacific e. al For lhe ,I. ra''-
WAYS the following attorneys answered.:
Northern Pacific. Great Northern. Spo-
kane Falls and Northern l. G Slman,
E. j. Cannon and S; Donnelly for the
nany. w w Cotton Northern Pacihc.
d. J. Dunn. The Canadian Paclhc; also
a defendant was not represented. A
petition In intervention was nied by Selh
Mann OF San Francisco in behalf OF the
Pacific Coast Jobbers association, the
Portland Chamber of Commerce and the
tie. and was allowed despite objection.
Attorney Brooks Adams opened the heh'
for the city OF Spokane
First Important Case.
This is the frs, case of any lmpor-
rance arising under the new interstate
law" he said In his opening address.
THE railways are nor only a hlg way
n they have the power OF charging for
Transportation they have the power 10
take from n community as mncn money
as the,- see 6t unless nterferred With by
conpetitlon or by government regula-
lion Al first competition was sufticient
hut society has realized that compeu-
tion VII no longer answer and has erect
ed n tribunal 10 intervene.
"The government might, II II pleased
huild ali the railroads on may delegate
this nower 10 private companies as agent
,his mower 10 private companies as
Srente The agents nre trustees OF the
Government and responsible TO the peo-
SIc for the construction and operation OF
tbe railroads and for the money obtained
from the operation of these public works,
7 take IL the railroads are responsible for
Inc fundg corning into their hands and II
,hev devote these funds 10 private puT-
nnees they stand In the same. light as
Inv trustee who collects public funds and
Trvotes the money 20 private ends. They
I've entitled "a d fair return on their IN
,estment. 10 money necessary for opera
ION and maintenance. and beyond this
fhev are entitled 10 nothing
Declares Hill Controls.
Mr. Adams declared that James j. Hin
bad promised spokane better rates in
r.iurn for riSht OF way concessions. He
deciared Mr. Hill absolutely controlled the
raIlway conditions here He said the
Irecontiv-declarcd dividends Of $l1,&0O.OOO
ror Hjlrs lines should be accounted for
to tbe government and said the Burling-