The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-22
.PORTLANDGATEWAY
THROWN WIDEOPFN
Important Ruling for Northwest
ern Traffic by Interstate Com
MERGE Commission
Victory for Hartman Roads
Which Hill Will Fight TO SUI
preme Court

W ASiiNGTON, May PA decision
was handed down today by the inter
state commerce commission in what
has come 70 be kno&n as the Portland
gateway case. in which the contention
of the travelling public for through
routes and joint rates from eastern
points via Portland. Ore. is sustained.
The railroads which We're defendants
in the proceeding are required by order
OF the commission TO establish before
Juiy !. 1902. through routes and joint
rates Via Portland and to maintain
Them for at least two years. Chairman
Knapp and Commissioner Clark dis
scented from the majority opinion Of
the commission. maintaining that salts
factory through routes and through
JOINT rates We're already in existence
RESULT OF MANY COMPLAINTS
The case was instituted on the init
atiNe Of the commission itself in view
of The numerous complaints it had
eceiNed that the present through
oteS were unsatisfactory. 1t has been
>. -ndinS many months and was bitterly
contested by the railroads
The. commission holds that the right
~ q railroad TO control its traffic by the
making Of arrangements for through
routes and Joint rates for the handling
of both passenger and freight business
is thing Of value TO the railway which
should be protected in so far as it
can be done without infringing upon
the rights Of the public. but that these
railroads are public servants and it is
their first duty TO accord to the public
proper facilities.
Victory for Hartman
PORTLAND. Ore. May 2I.-The Ev-
cning Telegram, in commenting upon
the decision OF the Interstate commerce
commission in the Portland gateway.
says
The foregoing decision is a sweep
ing victory for the Hartman roads.
but viii unquestiOnablv be contested
by the Hill people up to the supreme
court OF the United States as recently
threatened in a letter from President
Howard Elliott of the Northern Pacific
TO the businessmen Of Portland.
Its chief significance from the local
standpoint is that il viii mean a free
and unlimited interchange of business
among the Hartman and the northern
lines via Portland gateway. 1t win
also mean the elimination OF the nui-
sance Of rechecking baggage for
through passengers, either east or west
bound, al this point"
Appeal in Missouri Cases
KANSAS CITY. May 2I-Another
step was taken by the state to restrain
the railroads of Missouri from restOr-
ing the 3 cent passenger fare when
Seebert Jones. circuit attorney of St
Louis. today fled I'm the federal court
here an appeal from the recent de-
cisiou Of Federal Judge Smith McPher-
son continuing in force a temporary
injunction restraining the circuit at
torney from prosecuting an injunction
suit against the railroads.
NORTHER PACIFIC WILL FIGHT
1t is understood authoritatively that
il is the intention of the Northern Pa
cifc in connection, perhaps, with other
roads to seek an injunction restrain
ing the commission from putting its
order into effect Should such an in
junction be granted it would prevent
the enforcement Of the order during
The period of the Alaska Yukon Pacific
that il would require many months for
the courts finally to determine the case
on its merits.
Complaint by Reno Shippers
RENO, New. May Celebrating that
charges for switching cars by the
Southern Pacific were prohibitive and
them no redress, ignoring their APP
pes1s 50 of the biggest shippers in
Reno today forwarded petition to
the Nevada railroad commission set
prompt action by the state body.
Charges of % cents a ton have been
eXacted by the railroad. A general re-
duction is sought.