Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-18
COMMERCE CON-
MISSION TO HOLD SESSIONS
IN WESTERN CITIES.
HAVE IMPORTANT BEARING
ON TRANS. CONTINENTAL RATES
First Session Of the Commission to Be
Held at Spokane, Oct. 4-WilI Be in
Session at Billings, Portland, Seattle,
Reno and Salt Lake city-other
News Of the Day.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Aug 1S-In little
more than month, the entire inter-
state commerce commission will de-
part from Washington for the west on
the most important series OF hearings
which it has conducted since the Hep
burn rate law went into effect.
1t is not too much to say that on
the results Of this trip of the COM
mission may depend the future Of the
Hepburn law. On this series Of hear
ings. moreover, will depend the whole
ping centers of the far west, not mere
ly local rates but thru rates to the
Atlantic seaboard
Will Test Hepburn Law.
This trip of the commission and the
decisions which grow out of it will be
hard test for the Hepburn law and
for the commission. If the commission
can deal with the wide scope of ques-
tons which will be raised before it in
this western trip, there is little doubt
that it can handle any rate proposition
which it Is likely to be confronted
with. If it can not deal with the situa-
ton alluded to. then important changes
in the law will be imperative.
The first hearing which the COM
mission will conduct will be Oct. at
Spokane 1t will be in the west month
or six weeks. 1t will conduct hearings,
aside from Spokane, at Billings, Mont;
Portland, Seattle, Reno, Salt Lake City
and perhaps other points.
Take Up Haul Question.
The big question confronting the
committee is substantially the one
raised in the Spokane case. This Is
whether the thru rates from the east
to such cities as Spokane, Reno. Salt
Lake City and like interior cities Of
the far western region should not be
flower than the rates to the coast cit
tes 1t is the long and short haul
question over again. with some modifi-
cations. The Pacific coast cities hold
they are entitled to the benefits of
water competition. In the Spokane case,
the commission gave the Pacific coast
cities the benefit of the idea of water
rates than Spokane and did not go into
that question to any extent. The COM
mission did decide that as to certain
commodity rates named in the COM
plant in the Spokane case, Spokane
was entitled to reductions from the
er u nan f aaRRo II 1a hne o1 re-
auctions and the rates on these will be
brought up before the commission,
Interior Cities Complain.
! Reno, Billings. Salt Lake City and
other interior points are complaining
i that the rates thru from the cast are
too high in themselves and too high
in comparison with the rates to the
coast, just as Spokane contends.
In addition to this, the coast cities,
such as Portland, Seattle and others
are complaining that too high local
rates are charged them by the rail-
roads when they seek to distribute
products into the interior.
The mass of questions raised in the
various complaints is so intricate that
it seems impossible to solve them
without giving much dissatisfaction in
some quarters. That appeals to the
courts are almost inevitable seems to
!
been confronted for months with one
/ and another phase of the contentious
over western freight rates. 1t has been
aware of the great Importance of the
problems and principles involved. Fin
ally, there seemed to be no other way
out of 1t than to go to the cities
which are the chief centers Of control
versy and conduct hearings on the
ground. It seldom happens of late that
a hearing is deemed of enough mo-
ment to warrant the attendance OF the
whole commission. The fact the entire
commission is going on this expedition,
indicates chat 1T is no ordinary event.
While the hearings will be in the
Rocky Mountain and the Pacific coast
| country, the fact that thru rates from
the Atlantic seaboard are involved will
give this trip of the commission un-
usual moment for eastern shipping and
railroad interests.