The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-10-15

sion. while recognizing the right of the
railroads 10 give lower rates to Coast
ports. declared the rates from eastern
points TO Spokane unreasonable IN
themselves and ordered reduction.
IL also changed the basis OF comput-
ing the diTerential in favor OF the
coast cities to one which coast cities
Insist is unsound The decision was
followed by voluntary charges by the
Hill roads. offered for approval OF the
commission, but not approved. Inc
changes. ii made. would have the ei'
feet OF taking established business
from eastern manufacturers and mer-
chants and transferring TO the Mid
die West. The contest has. therefore.
broadencd from one involving only
few iobbers in the west 10 one vitally
affecting the most powerful interests
In America a rehearng was ordered
and is now going on In different cities
before the full commission. the main
burden being assumed by the Cham
bers OF Commerce of New York and
other eastern cities.
THE Impropricty OF submitting such
momentous questions la the Judgment
OF any seven men should be obvious,
but that Is the law, and the commits
sion when invoked Is compelled TO
decide. We have noted with some
surprise that some part of tho interior
press of this state, doubtless reflect
ing what is supposed TO be local in
terests, has been inclined TO stand by
the Spokane decision. Possibly. al
though We trust not. some may have
been glad to injure San Francisco. But
we wish to warn the people of the In
terror that in creating public sent-
ment In favor OF the principle of the
Spokane decision they are placing
their local industries in awful danger
II was freely predicted h. experienced
transportation men that the ultimate
effect OF the amendments to the In
teTstate Commerce law would be TO
force the commission, against its Judg-
ment, but by ineXorable logic, 10 estab.
llsh virtually mileage rate I'm all in
terstate shipments. The Spokane de-
cision was one step in that direction.
Well Informed men see plainly that
other cases will compel similar steps
until the end predicted would finally
be reached The effect OF that would
be revolutionary It would ruin some
towns to build up others 1t would
the entire foundation of our
commercial structure. And the very
first great industry to go would be the
fruit Industry of California II could
not survive year with tho doctrines
of the Spokane decision carried to
their logical conclusion. The case will
be decided upon reason rather than
sentiment, but public sentiment will
cut some figure. And not only Inter.
lor producers, but interior merchants
of Spokane and Reno as woll as 9th
er Dlaces-are as vitally interested as
any coast city can be that the Spokane
decision shall not stand 1t will be
useless for them to get low frcights
on merchandise II the people of their
districts are unable to buy merchan.
disc
The foregoing is not good argu.
ment, Cities that have been unduly
favored by traffic that has been
forced out of It's natural channels
should not continue TO be upheld by
governmental action, Interior towns
are entitled TO square deal regard.
less of the length of time during
which they have been Disseminated
against. That the discrimination has
been long continued and destructive
should be no argument in favor Of a
Of that abuse.
OF course a change In rates from
present unreasonable schedules may
affect coast cities and may tend TO
build up interior points The very
fact that interior places will gain in
trade is proof Of the wisdom of the
change, as the economies which will be
brought about must decide the rela-
tive merits of competing points, and
after all the real test of the Justice
of the move will be found in the COM
mercial balances which weigh beyond
any ono mans judgment the fitness