Arizona republican., 1908-03-09
THE DEMAND
 OF SPOKANE
Statement of Its Right to
 Terminal Rates
The Interest of Phoenix In Outcome of This Ac- ton.

Ine ReDuDllcan naS received from the Chamber of Commerce of Spokane q statement regarding the position of Spokane in the suit of the shippers of that point against the Hill and Harri- man roads to secure more equitable freight rates as compared with those of the coast cities. The matter is now in the hands of the interstate com merce hearing after a long investiga- tiOn last fall. An early and favorable decision Is expected soon. The posi- ton of Spokane is similar in so many respects to that of Phoenix that the result of that action is awaited here with great interest. The statement of the chamber of commerce follows:
 More significant and important, per- haps. than any other statement in the briefs submitted to the Interstate Commerce Commission by H. AI Ste phens and Brooks Adams in the Spo-
 kane rate case, Is that relating to the attitude of the people of Spokane to- ward the interior cities and towns fin the northwest and elsewhere in the United States. They represent the city and county of Spokane and the Spokane chamber of commerce and the Spokane Merchants association in the suit for equitable rates against the Hill and Hartman systems and con- meeting lines in middle western and eastern states. The case Is the first under the congressional act, effective Jan. l. 1907. MT. Stephens says among other things in his reply brief:
 we are not attempting to prevent Salt Lake, ogden. Reno, Butte, Mis- soula, Denver or any other city from securing better rates, nor do we ask the commission to give Spokane better rates than shall be granted to Walla Walla. Pendleton, North Yakima. Wal lace. COurer d'Alene or any other town in the Inland Empire.
 If terminal rates are given to the people of Spokane they are willing to take their ttances, and If. under such conditions. jobbers at Portland, Taco ma, Seattle or eastern centers shall sell merchandise in, around and about Spokane. no complaint will be heard from the consumers. This Is not Q fight of the jobbers.
 If terminal rates to Spokane be req sonable, as to what territory will be distributed over by shippers in Spo- kane and other places Is a question of the survival of the Attest and the consumer will reap the benefit. No ar gument has been advanced by counsel for the carriers and no reason given why the present exorbitant rates should be maintained and the consum- CT be required to pay excessive and unreasonable charges, because jobbers at either one or many places desire to cooperate with the railroads to parcel out territory.
 The fact that giving terminal rates to Spokane would necessitate changes in methods of doing business and changes in tariff sheets. points upon which the defendants laid special stress. or that 1t would affect other roads, Is no excuse for a failure of the to grant to complainants what they are entitled to upon and un- der the facts of this particular case"
 MT Stephens says that the natural possessed by the sea coast cities do not warrant the transconti- mental railroads in charging unreason- able rates to interior points. and, he says, 1t naturally follows that a reas- enable rate to Spokane from points east cannot consistently be based upon a water rate to coast points. plus the local rate back to Spokane. as 1t now the case: He adds.
 That is purely and wholly arbitrary and without reference to the service performed. Usually, the service per formed Is governed primarily by dis tarce. and the mere fact there Is wa ter competition to coast points does not warrant charges or rates to Spo- kane which are equal to the coast rates, plus arbitrary rates back to Spokane"