The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-21
S?OKANE'S FIGHT.

Wal!a Walla along with other cities
of the Inland Empire, has been asked
by Spokane to stand by her in fighting
the ra iroads for lower freight rates
through the interstate commerce COM
mission. Spokane has long battled for
q square deal in competition with the
Coast cities and has been so far sue
cessfuI that the commission after hear
ing complaints and counter complaints
almost innumerabe ordered sweeping
reductions which the railroads are now
fighting tooth and nal to keep from
going into effect To fOrestall the en-
forcement of the commissions order
the Hill and Hartman lines have pre-
pared revised schedule of tariffs which
they propose to substitute for the or
dered rates.
AS it now stands there has been
reduction of more than 16 per cent or
dered and adopted by the railroads, in
class rates and there has been marked
reductions in commodity rates on "a
articles from Chicago to Spokane. The
commission has tentatively accepted
the plan of the railroads to make SIM
liar reduction in class rates from the
Coast, which will give Spokane the
a reduction of the local rate from Sc
attic to Spokane. But before this
plan is finally accepted at the time
fixed, July l, the commission will be
governed by the facts as presented by
the parties interested on the hearing
day. June 9.
In order to make a last supreme eff
fort to hold the ground already gained,
the Falls City has asked Walla Walla
to join with her in again presenting the
inland cities cause to the commission.
Seattle. Tacoma, Portland, San Fran
cisco. Sacramento and Los Angeles
banded together to fight the railroads
battles from the very inception of the
rate agitation have now taken new
heart and will bring every poss Ible eff
fort to bear on the commission to de-
feat Spokane and the Inland Empire.
There is certainly no question as to
Walla Wallas place in the fight. Spo-
kanes interests are to a great extent
our interests and we should take d
hand and render every assistance pos
sible.
W-aIa Walla should enter the fight
with two objects in view, that of win |
ming out in a strenuous attempt to
compel lower freight rates from the
east and then to follow the victory up
with Just as determined a stand for the
same local distributing rates enjoyed
by Spokane.
The samples of rates put forward by
the railroads to hoodwink the inter
state commerce commission and pla
cate the inland cities propose a sub
stantial reduction in the tariffs now in
effect but are, with few exceptions
much higher than those ordered by
the commission.
In the hardware lists for example,
the commission ordered a rate on wire
fencing of so cents; the railroads
would raise it to SIP. The commits
sion rate on iron pipe is so cents but
the railroads want SO cents. A 10
cent rate was ordered on wire and nails,
this the railroads propose to raise to
9S cents.
All along the list it is very evident
that the railroads are seeking to defy
the commissions order and establish
rates on articles of food consumption,
wearing apparel books and papers, fur
niture, etc, much higher than those
charged which have been declared just
and equitable after months of the very
closest investigation.