The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-04-04

WASHINGTON. D. C., April s.
| Congressman Francis w. Cushman 0
Tacoma. Washington filed this morn
ing with the Interstate commerc,
Commission a petition from the Far
mers COOPERATIVE and Educationa
Union representing fifteen thousant
wheat farmers OF the Northwestern
wheat states against the Great North
ern Railway Company, Northern Pa
cihc Railway Company, Astoria & Co
lumbia River Railroad Company
Spokane Portland & Seattle Railwa'
Company, Oregon Washington &
Idaho Railroad Company and the
Oregon Railroad 4 Navigation Comp
any. asking for rate on grain to AS
toria at the mouth OF the Columbia
River common with Puget Sound
points.
The Farmers Union is represented
by one Of the ablest attorneys Of the
Northwest, Mr.. Frederick II. Murray,
well known throughout all the North
western states and especially to agri-
cultural and manufacturing men.
The farmers in their petition aver
that they control twenty-five million
bushels OF wheat and they especially
pray that the Interstate Commerce
Commission will decide the matter in
time for the wheat to be shipped
abroad from Astoria this season. The
farmers ask that after due hearing and
investigation an order be made COM
manding the railroad companies to
cease their discriminating against As
toria and in favor of Puget Sound
because OF the injury II does to the
wheat growing interests,
They ask the Commission to order
the railroad companies TO furnish
transportation for wheat and cereals
and other farm products from Idaho,
Washington and Oregon to Astoria
over the respective lines and to estab.
lish a through and joint tariff rate OH
such products.
They ask that just and reasonable
rates be made applicable to Astoria
which shall not be in excess Of the
present rate on wheat, grain and farm
products now applicable to Puget
Sound points.
They ask that this rate which they
pray the Commission to establish
shall not be unreasonable and unduly
preferential in favor Of and to the ad-
OF Puget Sound points and
against the City of Astoria and the
mouth of the Columbia River, And
inally the farmers pray that the law
ul rates, regulations and practices
Justly and lawfully applicable to such
transportation be ascertained and that
IN order be made by the Commission
.eQuiring the said defendants to con-
orm thereto in time to handle the
present years wheat crop.
1t was an interesting coincidence
hat the press dispatches brought the /
Jews OF the filing Of this suit by the !
Farmers Union at the very moment |
hat some of the railroad officials most |
lirectly interested were sitting at a
ession of the State Railroad Com
mission in the Astoria Chamber OF
Commerce. The Railroad Commis'
ion was considering, however an
ntirely different subject.
In historical way 1t may be stated
hat the Farmers COOPERATIVE and
educational Union is an association
Iuly organized and consists of practi-
ally all of the farmers engaged in
aising wheat in the Northwest
The objects and purposes OF the as
ociation are to sell, ship and other
wise market and dispose of wheat
rain and other products of the farms
,wned by the membership; to enlarge
he market for the sale Of such farm
PRODUCTS and to advance and promote
he interests Of its membership; 10
their interests together for
he purpose of the most economical
production of their farm products; to