The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-03-23
IMPORTANT DECISION
BY the Interstate Commerce COmmls-
SION S,,staius the Position of Alexan-
dria and Shreveport as not Unlustly
Discriminating against Monroe.

SION ouStiluS me PoSlt1on OF AleNall
dria and Shreveport as not Unlustly
Discriminating against Monroe.
Copies Of the decision Of Special tx
aniner Lamb in the case of the Pro
grcssivc League against the NiCkSburg
Shreveport and Pacific Railway were re-
ccivcd Monday by Capt NJ l.. SEQ
veil. secretary of the Shreveport Traffic
Association. and Attorney Emerson
Bentley, who was counsel Dor both
Shreveport and Alexandria in the case
The Monroe Progressive League filed
complaint against the Vicksburg,
Shreveport and Pacific Railway and the
st Louis. Iron Mountain and Southern
Raiyway companies alleging discrim,ua
tons against Monroe in rates from st.
Louis. Chicago. Kansas City and what
are known as the defined territories to
Monroe. 'Ehcy asked for lower rates on
account fthe rates in effect to Nicks-
burg and Natchcz. Miss. and they
wanted figures equal to what are used
from the interstate points to Jackson
and Meridian. Miss.
While seeking this adjustment for
themselves they specifically asked to be
taken out Of the Shreveport group and
be given 4 better basis Of rates than ap-
plies from interstate markets to Shrcvc-
port and Alexandria. | he Shreveport
group refers to basis of rates which
the railroads have had in operation a
long term Of years and As a result of
which the interstate rates from markets
III all parts Of the country are made ex
ac,ly the same to Shreveport. Alexan
dria and Monroe When it was learned
that Monroe was asking for divorce
ment from this group the Shreveport
Traffic Association and the Alexandria
Progressive League fled petitions in the
case intervening and opposing the prop
osition of Monroe and taking the posi-
ton that the group basis should not be
disturbed
The case was heard at Mouroe last
June before Special Examiner Lamb and
in February the oral arguments were
made at Washington
The decision of the Interstate Com
merce Commission fully sustains the
position of Alexandria and Shreveport
and holds that 'the rate adjustment
which groups, Monroe. Alexandria and
Shreveport is not unreasonable, and not
unjustly discriminatory against Mon
roe.
Shreveport and Alexandria also spe-
cihcally opposed the application of Mon
roe for lower rates from Vicksburg to
Monroe and this point was also won by
the intervenors The commission in de
Gliding this point says Even if Monroe
were divorced from this Shreveport
group no reduction could be made in
those rates which would not operate as
much to the advantage Of Vicksburg as
to that Of Monroe" and after citing an
illustration to demonstrate their con
clusion the Commission adds 'ln ad-
dition to that, Vicksburg would thus be
given a decided advantage over Alex
andria and Shreveport
During the trial of the case the Iron
Mountain railroad admitted that the ad
justment into their local territory from
Memphis and Natcl,ez was discrimina-
tory against Monroe and expressed will
ingness to remedy the trouble. The
Commission therefore makes no order
on these adjustments but holds the
case open pending action Of the Iron
Mountain thereon
It is also ordered that those rates
which are now in effect which are higher
than the combination of local rates
through Vicksburg and New Orleans
be reduced to the points in the Shreve-
port group so that they shall not exceed
those combinations. This reduction will
apply to Alexandra and Shreveport and
will dispose of some complainst recently
made by local shippers at session Of
the freight agents which was held in
this city.
Taking the decision as whole,
Shreveport and Alexandria will get the
same reductions in the inbound rates
which are made to Monroe and the rel
ative adjustment which has obtained in
their competitive territory. that is. the
territory in which the three cities COM
pete against each other in distributing
their goods, will remain undisturbed.