Arizona republican., 1910-05-07
The Rate Question at Washington.

The interstate commerce commits sion will reach a decision this month on the complaints which embrace freight rates to Phoenix. Spokane Reno, Salt Lake City and other in- terior cities. This interesting infor- mation was given out by Senator FL kins of West Virginia on the 21th of last month. in the course of the de- bate in the senate on the railway reg ulation bill Senator Bristow, Senator Cummins and other senators had stated in reference to President Taft's recommendation of commerce court" for the speedy trial of rate cases, that some machinery more eX- peditious than that now afforded is needed for handling complaints. and they had cited as an instance of the delay encountered by complainants be- fore the interstate commerce commits sion. that the Spokane case has been pending four years. To these state ments Senator Elkins replied:
 "The Spokane rate question first came up alone. pure and simple, but it was enlarged by taking in the other interior cities. and then it was en- larged by taking in Salt Lake. When a few members of the senate commit tee were Investigating this subject the other day the members of the inter- state commerce commission were asked when they would settle all these dis puted rates, including Spokane, and they said the next month (May). So that was not one case which required four years. but very complicated series of cases.
 It is to be hoped that Senator FL ldns was correctly informed. When the decision is rendered it will prove to be the most important ruling ever made by the interstate commerce com mission. The whole interInountain country, from our northern boundary to the Mexican line, is involved and deeply interested and is awaiting the decision with some impatience.
 Upon the nature of the commission s decision and, if a substantial reduc- ton of rates is ordered, the accept ance of the decision by the carriers will depend the question of the future attitude of the people of the west to- ward the railroads. It is scarcely to be expected that the commission will grant the full demands of shippers, but if relief which reasonably approxi- mates their demands is furnished harmonious relations between ship pers and railways will be easily es- tablished.
 Railway managers fall into error when they assume that the masses of the people are hostile to the railroads and will not be satisfied with any fair settlement of the rate contro- versy. With the exception of dena- gogues and professional agitators, the people of the far west are friendly to the railroads. They comprehend in a large measure the reasons for higher freight rates in sparsely settled re- gions, and they are quite willing for investors in railroads to earn satis- factory income on their investments
 But the feeling is well nigh uni versal-and The Republican believes the feeling is wholly justifiable-tha' a system of rates has been developed which is unjustly discriminatory against the shippers of the interior towns in the coast country. For in- stance. Senator Bristow was right when he pointed out the discrimina- tion in favor of Fl Paso against Ari- zona cities and termed it indefensibie The Kansas senator was incorrect III his guess of a reason for the faVor- able rates to Fl Paso: that they exls' because several roads compete for t. paso business. The real reason for the Fl Paso rates is founded on the theory of the Galveston gateway = 
 water rates from the. eastern seaboaro to Galveston, plus the local rate from Galveston to Fl Paso. But the essen tial fact to be kept in mind is that the established rates to Fl Paso are undoubtedly. satisfactorily profitable or they would not be maintained; and if the rate on woolens from New York to Fl Paso. which is $2.47. yields satisfactory profit on the all-rail car riage of 2,310 miles from New York, there is no justification for charging Phoenix or Tucson $390,- or $l.4S more. for the short haul from Fl Paso to the Arizona towns.
 Practically all the railway trafflc men admit that the present system of rates is arbitrary. unscientific and in many respects indefensible. and they say that whether or not the interstate commerce commission decides in favor of the compliments in the pending cases. a revision of tariffs which will
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