The farmer and mechanic., 1910-07-12

Rates Should Not BE Disturbed at
This Time.
Tue Interstate Commerce COmmiS-
si,n in its opinion just handed down
In the case in which the North Caro-
LIMA Corporation Commission made
complaint before it asking that it rec
xify determinations against cities in
North Carolina in the matter Of
freight rates. in it's findings held that
there are no discrinina tions but that
tnD present rates are unjust and un-
reasonable and ordered reductions.
These reductions, however, are
not such as to correct the gross
determinations made against North
Carolina cities, and will not
place jobbers and wholesale dealers
of Durham and Winston-S Salem and IN
tcrmcdiate points on the same footing
a. that enjoyed by the business
interests Of Richmond, Lynchburg,
RoanJke and other Virginia cities,
giving them rates by which they are
enabled to prosper.
In the decision of the Interstate
Commerce commission that body
takes j very curious position as to
Roanoke. In discussing its view that
certain rates to Virginia cities were
made by the railroads under COMPETE
tive conditions: "TheTefOTe the rates
made thereto cannot properly become
the basis Of comparisons with rates to
points which we're not within the scope
Of similar influences. Com petition OF
the character which existed at the
Virginia cities has never obtained at
Wjaston-Salem and Durham
on top Of this the Interstate Com
merce Commission takes tack in an
exactly opposite direction in discuss
ing the conditions at Roam oke, Va,
and practically admitting that the
rates to Roanoke are unjust and dis
criminatOry it says that because Roam
Oke, with no railroads in competition,
had certain rates, which are lower
than the rates given North Carolina
and had these for many years, it
should continue to receive them. This
IS 50 radically at odds with reference
Il the other parts of the decision that
the Commission has not leg to stand
upon in the application Of its decision
10 Roanoke, and disposes of the issue
raised by an argument that begS the
question. Concerning this it says:
With respect Of the contention Of
complainant that as Roanoke was
served by but one railroad company.
competitive conditions do not exist
there which in any manner compel the
making Of lower rates than to the
North Carolina cities in question,
which are served by two or more rail
Toads, it is to be said that the rates
from the West to Roanoke were
put in effect on April 5th, 1887,
by the Kanawha Dispatch, which
was fast freight line operat-
Ing over the Chesapeake and
Mer" published from Chicago and
Itoanoke via Basic, Va, in connection
with the Shenandoah Valley Railroad.
IN 1890 the Norfolk and Western ac-
Qurod the Shenandoah Valley road,
over which the Virginia cities rate
were applied to Roanoke, and accept
ed the rates as it found them, and
they have remained in effect substan-
ua!ly without change to the present
une. The industries and business of
Roanoke were built up and have been
maintained under the existing rate ad-
!uStfnentS, and we are Of opinion that
1t should not be disturbed at this
time"
This is a most wonderful conclu-
SION which the Commission reaches.
II admits that there is discrimination
IN favor Of Roanoke, but that because
somebody started it in 1887 and "the
industries and business Of Roanoke
ouIlI up and nave Deen main tam =
ca ny 1t, that 1t is all right and
should go on. AS to other Virginia
cues the Commission says competi-
I'VE rates are to be considered when
North Carolina cities object to the
discrimination and when these cities
CD,f't to the rates to Roanoke It
1aora about and says that while there
ere no competitive rates to be cOnsid-
cree as to Roanoke, yet somebody
M'id" an agreement to help Roanoke,
ttihat 1T has built up it's industries and
us interests because of it and that
ller"fore it should stand
. III other words, in this decision OF
Hrt' M Interstate Commerce Commission
N1'lh Carolina gets hit coming and
5oIh@- While some reductions are al
44o""A' yet these are not such az to put
laen on an equal basis with the Vfr-
Slha cities and they are still to suffer
rl?'n inc determinations in freight
1a'@S which so toward building up the