The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-29
interstate Commerce Commission Has
Issued Decision Which viii
Result In Reduction
Of Rates.
KEoKUK WILL BENEFIT
Commission Holds That Chicago Has
Been Getting an Undue Advan-
tage over the Middle
West Cities.

fit from the reduction In freight rates
which is expected to come within a
short time as result Of a recent
decision by the Interstate Commission
commission.
The following from Washington ex-
plains the present status OF the ques-
ton and will be of interest to Keokuk
Institutions which are paying out big
freight bills for raw material and
articles shipped in here from the east:
A decision of much Importance to
merchants and jobbers of Iowa who
receive large shipments of goods from
the Central Freight Association terri
tory east Of Chicago, has been an
nouilced by the interstate commerce
commission. The commission has de-
clared that the present rates from In
dianapolis and similar points to the
Missouri river are unreasonable and
give undue preference to Chicago.
Tntimation is given in the decision
that the commission is willing to
make general REIMBURSEMENT of rates
from other points IN the Central
Freight association territory if proper
complaints are filed with it. Order
putting tae new indianapolis rate into
effect is withheld, however, pending a
court decision in similar case. If the
commission wins this case, there is
certain to be lively slashing of mid
die western freight rates from points
east of Chicago to the Missouri river
that will greatly benefit Iowa buyers.
Clark Renders Decision
Commissioner Clark of Cedar Rap
{ Ids, Iowa, rendered the opinion of the
commission in the Indian, polls case
brought by the freight bureau Of that
city against score Of railroads. 1t
was charged that the roads were ex-
acting unjust and unreasonable class
rates on traffic from Indianapolis to
Missouri river points. The rates
from indianapolis to the Missouri
river are constructed by adding the
local rates from Indianapolis to East
st. Louis to the local rates beyond,
ths rates applying to East st. Louis
being used as basis in making up the
through rate to be. applied via any
Mississippi river crossing between
East st. Louis and Dubuque, Iowa.
The shipments from Indianapolis to
tie Missouri river points are carried
through to destination by the connect
ing lines upon bills of lading issued at
Indianapolis and without the interview
ton OF the shipper at any junction
point.
Rates Unreasonable.
The commission held that the pres
eilt class rates on through traffic from
indianapolis to Missouri river points
are unreasonable and subject Indian
apolis to unreasonable prejudice and
give to Chicago undue preference. A
relative adjustment as between In
dianapolis and Chicago is prescribed,
and also reasonable maximum rates
B to be applied In the future to the trans
portation of class rate traffic and
chairs and furniture from Indianapolis
% Missouri river points; but an order
relative to class rates and relative
adjustments thereof is withheld, pend
Ing the court decision on the prior or
der OF the commission in the Burnham.
Hanna-Munger case.
The commission further declared in
This case that while it may not be
dorbted that competitive conditions
are responsible for the present rates
applying from Chicago, yet, giving full
weight to such considerations. it is
the province of the commission to de-
termine whether the disparities be-
tween the total charges from Chicago
and Indianapolis, respectively, are
greater than are justified by the rec
ognized dissimilarity of conditions.
Cannot Deny Relief.
The commission also said that what
eyer may be the general effect of an
order changing the rate structure for
= typical point in a group, the COM
mission cannot, under the law, deny
reiief for such point for the sole reas-
~ tfat other points in like situation
may be able to show that they are en-