The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-05
RAILROAD NEWS.
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion to Tour West.
Seek Information About Freight
Rate Situation.
TO HEAR MANY CASES.
Hill and Hartman Attorneys
viii Follow Board.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.
70 HEAR MANY CASES.

Chicago, Ill. July 5.-According to
advices received here by railroad law
yers, the interstate commerce commits
sion will begin about Oct 1 a complete
tour of the Pacific coast and the prin-
cipal commercial centers west of the
Rocky mountains to get first hand in
formation regarding the transconti-
Mental freight rate situation.
The itinerary which has been map
ped out in preliminary way includes
Spokane, Portland, Seattle, San Fran
cisco, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City,
where the commission will take testi-
mony on rates from the eastern terri
tory to the Pacific coast terminals and
intermediate points.
Itinerary Not Complete.
Specific dates when the commission
will reach the points named have not
yet been determined, but according to
present plans it is expected that the
first stop will be made at Spokane on
Oct. 4, where further testimony will be
taken on the supplementary petition of
the Spokane chamber of commerce
against the transcontinentaI railroads
This is the fundamental case on which
the other cases are largely dependent
and has been pending for over two
years.
The reduced class rates ordered by
the commission went into effect yester-
day from Chicago and the east but
they have been opposed by the entire
Pacific coast, and the commodity rates
are being held in allegiance until fall.
At Seattle the commission will take
testimony in a. similar case brought by
the Seattle chamber of commerce, the
Seattle transportation bureau and the
Tacoma chamber of commerce against
the Great Northern and other roads.
AT Portland there are important
cases involving complaints of the Port
land chamber of commerce against the
Oregon Railroad and Navigation COM
pany, and the Astoria chamber Of COM
merce against the Great Northern.
VIII Hear Switching Cases.
At San Francisco the commission
will hear a, number of cases. including
the oral arguments in the San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles switching rate
cases. At Reno there is further testi-
mony to be taken in the case of the
the Southern Pacific. and at Salt Lake
Citw will be opened the case of the
Salt Lake City commercial club against
fifteen tranScontinentaI roads, in which
the commission is asked to establish
new and reasonable rates between Salt
Lake City, Ogden and Provo, and Chi
cagO Mississippi river and Missouri
river common points.
AS the Hill and Hartman lines are
involved In practically all these cases,
the attorneys of the two systems are
planning to follow the commission.
The most important of the cases to
come before the commission during its
trip is that of the Salt Lake City com
merciaI interests. The charges OF I'M
rates. conspiracy in re-
straint of trade and division of traffic
by agreement among the roads have
been set out in the petition of relief
sent to President Taft on April 1, which
was signed by over 1900 citizens of
Salt Lake and neighboring cities. The
petition is directed against practically
every western railroad which passes
through or makes direct connections
with Salt Lake City.