The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-10

A matter of as great magnitude
as the Spokane freight rate deci-
sion has never been put upon the
interstate commerce commission,
and the far reaching consequences
of this decision is the reason Of
ficially given for the delay of
more than year in pronouncing
ruling.
Frank Lyon, special examiner for
the commission, discussed this
phase of the question with The
Press after the lumber rate dis
pute hearing here yesterday. Mr..
Lyon stated that a decision In the
Spokane case could be expected
very soon now. as the commission
is at last in possession of all the
data it required.
The scope of inquiry launched by
Spokane's fight will be appreciated
when it is understood that the de-
cision will affect the status of ev-
cry town of shipping consequence
in the United States.
A great economic and Industrial
principle is to be decided, not
merely the matter of how much
shall be charged on a shipment of
groceries or cloth from Chicago to
Spokane. There Is some reason
for local pride, in fact, that such
an universal movement bears the
made in Spokane label. This city
has made the fight for all inland
shipping points from coast to
coast.
Spokane's protest was directed
against the manifest injustice of
charging the same freight rate
from Chicago to this city as the
railroads charge to Seattle and
then adding to the Spokane charge
the freight rate from seattle back
to Spokane.
A Spokane shipper, under this
sort of perversion, pays just as
much for eastern goods unloaded
here as Seattle shipper pays for
freight hauled to Seattle, 400 miles
farther, and thence back to Epo-
kane, a. total excess haul of 500
miles. He can ship to Seattle and
thence to customers in Spokane, II
he has any, at no more expense
for freight than the Spokane mer-
chant is compelled to undergo for
having the same line of goods un-
loaded here.
This sort of extortion is exacted
by the railroads on the pleae that
the coast cities have the natural
advantages of water competition,
hence the railroads are compelled
to lower rates to them-and make
the inland points pay the differ
ence. The commission will deter
mine ten status of this water COM
petition" element.
There was never a hope of escap-
ing from this condition until the in
terstate commerce commission was
instituted and the Spokane cham
Der of commerce was ready with
protest and proof as soon as the
commission was called to order
for business.
Where the national significance
of a decision in this case enters
will easily be perceived. If Spo-
kane secures rates based on the
actual distance of hauling goods,
the claim of every city in the coun-
try to like consideration is estab-
lished. If rate on a certain ar
ticle from st. Paul to Seattle is 81.
the rate from st. Paul to Spokane
should be proportionately less than
81, from st. Paul to Butte still less,
and so on along the line.
The working out Of a system by
which the subject can be dis
posed of on basis just to the in
land cities and to the railroads is
what has absorbed the attention of
the commission in considering the
Spokane case. Spokane has insist
ed on no arbitrary ruling disre-
garding the legitimate interests of