The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-02-26
MAY CAUSE BIG CUT
IN FRE|GhT RATES
IF SPOKANE IS SUCCESSFUL IN
HER FIGHT FOR LOWER
RATES WHOLE COUNTRY
WILL BE BENEFITED

The fight which Spokane is con
Quoting for lower freight rate from
the east and which shows every sign
at the present time of resulting in a
victory for the chief city of the In
land Empire, is attracting national
attention, for the decision of the in
terstate commerce commission will
not only decide question of local
Importance but one which may result
in a sweeping reduction of freight
rates over the whole country.
At present and ever since the
transcontinental roads were built
Spokane has been forced to pay a
terminal rate, that it, the same rate
which is charged on freight to the
Pacific Coast or some given terminal
point. Every other city between the
Mississippi river and the Cascade
mountains is subjected to this ter
minal rate bugbear, such cities as
Spokane paying an admittedly high
er rate than do coast cities where
the railroads are forced to compete
with water transportation. The re-
suit has been to add to the burden of
the ranchers and manufacturers, and
in fact every resident of the inter-
mediate territory and to hold back
nf hn nfy-1y in
eral The injustice of this method
of making freight rates has long
been admitted yet no satisfactory
method of combating the evil has
been found and no fight made strong
enough to overcome the array of leg
al talent presented by at least doz-
en- roads interested in maintaining
the terminal rate.
Dispatches from Washington state
that there is little doubt that the
Interstate Commerce commission will
decide the Spokane case by ordering
"a reduction in rates to Spokane,
wholly or in part in agreement with
the request of the Spokane Chamber
of Commerce. The Washington
Times in a recent editorial says: ''If
rates to Spokane from the east can
be reduced from 10 to 40 per cent,
or at all, by the blanket order of the
commission, then rates can be reduc-
ed all over the United States where
the same condition of affairs exists.
If Spokane wins her contention then
every city and town in the territory
between the Mississippi river and the
Cascade mountains may be expected
to ask the same reduction.
Similar cases will be brought to
the commission in the eastern part
of the country.
I'm word the whole question as
to the scope of the rate law hangs on
the Spokane controversy.
Should the commission decide fav-
orably for Spokane it is not probable
that the railroads will let the case
rest there but will carry it to the
supreme court to test the extent of
the authority of the interstate COM
merce commission. But in the event
the supreme court should decide
against the commission it is under
stood that the president will recon-
mend an amendment to the law I'M
der which the commission acts, en-
powering it to make such reductions
as are asked by Spokane if it is de-
cided they are just.
Whatever may. be the immediate
result of Spokane's fight it is evident
that with President Roosevelt and
the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion arrayed upon her side the city
will eventually win the desired re-
duction in carrying rates.