New-York tribune., 1910-06-01
REDUCED RATES STAND
suureme Court Endorses Action
of Commerce Commission.
IN THE MISSOURI CASES
Commission Contended That Ex'
istence of Through Rates Was
at Stake IN Suits.

WASHINGTON. May sL-By G decision OF
-os the Supreme Court OF the United
sestes to-day decided that the Interstate
ro-,nerce Commission had not exceeoeo
It's power IN ordering the reducnon OF
rreight rates IN the so-caIled Missouri hiVer
rate cases and the Denver rate cases
These orders were held 70 be valid
The Missouri River rate cases were based
o- an order OF the commission feoucA1s
he freight rate between the MISSISSIPPI
Rtver and the Missouri River, as part OF
The through rate on through shipments
originating n the eeaboard territory. Inc
Denver rata cases were based on an oroer
-sdrcsns tie rates on through freight frorn
Chicago and nom ST Louis TO Denver.
In both cases certain railroads and ship
ue-s concerned maintained that the COM
mission was endeavoring 10 DIVIDE tne
country into rate zones. The Circuit CouFI
sor the Northern District Of Illinois de-
c.deo that this contention was correct me
Supreme Court OF the United States to-day
IS decision announced by Justice Nc
Heuns declared that Il believed the COM
mission was not attempting to exercise
such e power, and that the record showed
70 evidence that such power was being ex-
srcissd- Hence II reversed the decision OF
the district court n both cases
The cases have receive great sttenpon
s,,-ins tie two years they have been the
subject OF litigation The government con-
tended that the existence Of through raues
Ezs at stake
arrer many hearings and several parties
Rad fntervened, an order was Issued oy the
commission directing the railroads doing
business between the Mississippi River
,-~ossing and the Missouri River 10 reduce
their rates as a part OF the through rate
~ shipments originating IN seaboaro terri
-o-v Seaboard territory is that section OF
-1,e country east Of Buffalo. Pittsburg and
ps-kersburg and north Of the Potomac.
The railroads IN the West and shippers
sobbers and wholesalers IN the East but
outside Of the seaboard territory. went into
-,,e ,o,1r1s The Circuit Court Of the United
States for the Northern District Of Illinois
enioined the coun~ission from enforcing the
order on the ground that 1t worked an
unjust discrimination against the inter
mediate Localities and shippers The COM
mission and business men in Missouri River
~ities appealed from the decision OF the
Circuit Court
Counsel for the appellants to-day asked
the court 10 give them thirty days 70 ME
!. petition for rehearing. Solicitor General
Bowe-s objected on the ground that the
delay would prevent the rates from going
.nto effect before the court met next Oc-
tober. Chief Justice Fuller directed that
4he mandate ot the court issue In thirty
days unless a petition for rehearing was
fled
: The court also upheld the Circuit Court
~ granting en injunction against the en-
forcernsnt OF the statute OF March Is. 1917
relating 10 the stoppage OF the interstate
commerce trains et Lathrop, No.
The court affirmed the judgment OF the
lower court in favor Of the Atchison, To-
pelt & Santa Fe Railroad Company, whose
charter also was being threatened because
~ had removed E suit from g state to g.
federal court