The Washington times., 1910-10-19
Missouri Shippers Pay for
Two Years After Supreme
Court Grants Reduction.
INTERSTATE BODY
MAY GIVE REDRESS
Little May Be Refunded of Freight
Charges From East to Missouri
River Cities.

Eastern shippers who are interested
IN the so-called Missouri river rates
case, decided in their favor by the
Supreme Court, have Just realized
that they will receive no benefits
from the decision without another
fight before the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
When the commission two years ago
ordered a reduction in the rates from
the Eastern markets, including Balti-
more, Philadelphia, New York, and
Boston TO the Missouri river cities, it
was expressly stipulated that the re-
duction should reman in effect just
two years.
Time Used Fighting.
Since the order was issued the rail-
roads have consumed the intervening
period in fighting it. In the mean
time the carriers have charged the old
rate And from this time on they
viii exact the old schedule. leaving
the shippers with an ineffective Su-
preme Court opinion TO their credit
but nothing more.
1t is suggested at the offices Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission that
the shippers may properly claim a re-
fund of the excessive charges under
the order OF the commission now sus-
tanned by the court, but ii will be
difficult for every shipment carried
under the disputed rates during this
long period to be traced and proper
claims made.
In other words, the railroads have
lost through the decision of the court.
but they have collected their money.
and Will be required to refund il only
in rare cases.
Test of Big Rivalry.
The Missouri river rate controversy
was one OF the most important to
come before the Interstate Com
merce Commission during the past
four or five years 1t was a case Of
competition between the Northwest
and the Middle West. The North
Westerners claimed that they should
have lower rates from the East on
account Of the water and Canadian
routes.
This contention was practically de-
MED by the commission. which made
an investigation and ordered that the
class rates 70 the Missouri river cities
be reduced almost to the point en-
1oyed by the Northwestern cities. The
L6OuCl4Ou dLuOunleu 20 > cents Oh
first class freight, cents on second,
cents on third, cents on fourth and
3 cents on fifth class.
These reductions were to remain ef-
fectiVe for two years. This period ex-
ptrec last Saturday, just two days be-
fore the supreme Court rendered its
decision sustaining the reductions.
Charges Are Millions.
A vast volume Of class" business
has moved from the East to the
Middle West during these two years,
and thief Teight charges in excess Of
the legal rate have totaled millions Of
dollars. But small proportion will
ever be reclaimed
1t is now necessary for the shippers
to file new petitions for similar reduc-
tions before they can secure advan-
tage of the Supreme Courts decision
The whole question VIII have TO be
gone over and another fight in the
courts made, as it is morally certain
that the carriers viii appeal a second
time should the commission favor the
shippers.
Among the Eastern lines which are
parties TO the case are the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad Pennsylvania Bos-
ton and Maine, New Haven Merchants
and Miners Transportation COMPANY
Chesapeake Steamship COMPANY
Western Maryland railroad, anG the
Southern railway. Fully seventy five
other railroads and steamship COM
panies are also interested