Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-15
Representatives Of Transcon
tinental Lines Meet to
Discuss the Stu
alton.
UP IN ARMS
AGAINST DECISION
Expected that the Interstate
Commerce Commission
Will Remain Firm.

on the recent railway rate discussions
OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, perhaps the most important and
farreaching handed down in the his
tory OF thaht body, brought to Wash
ington today representatives of all the
lines. The railroad men are up in
arms against the decisions, and voiced
their displeasure before the commits
sion today. 1t is expected, however,
that the commissioners will remain
firm, unless better reasons are ad-
duced than have SO far been pre-
sented.
The commission has ordered exten-
sive reductions of freight rates west
OF the Missouri river, especially in the
intermountain and Pacific States.
These reductions are the most COM
prehensive thaht the commission ever
made, and will affect all transcon-
tinental lines.
The bulk, IL not all, of the burden
of the reductions, however, will fall
upon roads operating west of the Mis-
sissippi, whose rates have been rela-
lively higher than those OF the roads
OF the East.
The commission has not, however
taken this important step without ex-
ercising a good deal of caution.
1t has provided for the postpone
~ hn
important orders until October !.
In the meantime the railroads af-
fected, acting under the commissions
orders, will keep two sets of revenue
the present rates. and another the
figures as they will stand at the re-
duction ordered by the commission
This comparative data is to be sub
mitted before October I, and through
this actual test the commission be-
lieves that it will be able to verify
the soundness OF the decisions that
the present rates are unreasonable.
The decisions handed down involve
what are popularly known as the Pa
cific Coast cases The cases were
heard last fall by the commission on
six weeks trip to the Pacific Coast
and intermountain territory, and have
been under consideration ever since.
The commission orders q reduction of
rates in practically every case com.
planned OF. In some Instances they
amount to close to 80 per cent The
uong and short haul question is in
volved in most of the commissions
present decisions.
Spokane, Wash. and Reno. New, are
two cities that have complained bit.
terly against this method of rate max.
Ing, and they bave been sustained by
the commission. The railroads. of
course. r4l've contended that they
have had to make reductions.
The commission invites from the
railroads any criticisms OF it's sched
ules, to be filed with the commission
on or before one month from today.
"If upon examination OF the objec
tions so fled" says the commission.
such course seems necessary. oppor
tunity will be given to the parties dur
ing the month of September to present
testimony in support of their OBJ
jections, to the end that by October
the case may stand for final dispo.
sition.
I'VE do not recognize the right of
the carrier" says the commission. "to
single out a piece of expensive road
and make the local traffic thereon
bear an undue portion of the expense
Of It's maintenance or its construc
tion."
The commissions opinion. which
was written by Commissioner Lane