Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-20
FREIGHT RATES
ARE REDUCED BY
COMMISSIONERS
INTERSTATE COMMERCE BODY
TAKES ACTION
KNAPP AND HARLAN DISSENT
FROM CONCLUSIONS
Commission Orders Restoration Of
Previous Rates West Of Line
from Pembina, s. D., to
Port Arthur, Texas
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON June 19.-Sweeping
reductions in lumber rates west of the
Missouri river and a per cent reduce
tion In the advanced rates in the east
as well as other changes in the tariff
are ordered under decisions announced
by the interstate commerce commission
today.
The rulings are made in 4. group of
important cases involving the rates on
lumber, shingles and other forest pro-
ducts from points in the Willamette
valley to San Francisco and from
Washington, Oregon. Idaho, Montana
and British Columbia to eastern and
southern markets.
In the cases of the Oregon and WASH
ington Lumber Manufacturers associa-
tion against the Union Pacific and
other roads, Pacific Lumber Manu-
facturers' associations and others
against the Northern Pacific and
others, the Southwestern Washing
ton Lumber Manufacturers asso-
citation against the Northern Pacific,
involving a general advance IN
lumber rates, in many cases 20 ana
20 per cent, from north Pacific coast
territory to points east thereof, which
became effective In November last. the
comynission make a geographic decision
in its action. On the ground of unrea-
sonableness II orders restoration or the
previous rates west of a line drawn
from Pembina, N. D., through Grand
Forks, Council Bluffs, Kansas City and
Sioux City to Port Arthur. Tex, along
the Kansas City Southern railroad, and
including all points east Of that line,
(which now take the same rates as any
point between and including Sioux City
and Kansas City"
A part of the increase to the more
distant markets lying east of the Mis-
eourt river fs permitfad to stand.
Establish Dlfferential Rates
Differential rates from Spokane rate
group points, Montana-Oregon rate
group points and Hood river, Ellens-
burg and Leavenworth districts, which
lie east of the Cascade mountains, en-
bracing parts of Washington and Ore
gon and all of idaho to eastern terri
tory are established under a decision in
the case of the Potlach Lumber COM
pany and others against the Northern
Pacific and other roads. Rates from
the Spokane. districts are ordered lower
than the Pacific coast.
In the case of the Western Oregon
Lumber Manufacturers association
against the Southern Pacific the COM
mission decides the advance of $5 per
ton from all mills in the Willamette
valley, not including Portland, is un-
Just and unreasonable; that from both
the east and west banks south of Cor
wallis the rate should not exceed $3.40
per ton, and upon the west bank north
OF Corvallis s3.65 per ton.
Because of the water rate the Port
land rate Is not reduced.
In the case of the Pacific Coast Man
rfacturing association against the
Northern Pacific and other roads the
commission declines to establish an
other through rate from Washington
to Colorado common points and eastern
destinations. 1t requires however, the
Northern Pacific railroad, the Northern
Pacific Terminal company of Oregon,
the oregon Railroad & Navigation COM
pany, the Oregon Short Line and the
Union Pacific to establish through rates
for lumber from the Northern Pacific
line In Washington. north of Portland as
far as Seattle, north of Portland to Og-
den and Salt Lake City and Utah COM
mon points, and 40-cent per 100 pounds
rate on fir and spruce lumber and 50I
cents per 100 pounds on cedar lumber
and shingles prescribed for through
traffic.
Chairman Knapp and Commissioner
Harlan dissented from the conclusions
reached by the majority in these cases,
on the ground that most of the ad-
vance in rates was reasonable.