Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-05
Nebraska
CALL DOWN FOR BURLINGTON
interstate Commerce Commission
Sends Letter to Road.
TOO HIGH CHARGE ON SHIPMENT
Washington Body Declares Dollar
sixteen Hundred Far Too Much
from oxford, Neb., TO
Sheridan, wYO.
CFrom a stan Correspondents

(From a Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN, Neb., Oct. 4-(Special.) 1.-The
Burlington railroad company has been CEN
sured by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. through correspondence with the
Nebraska Railway commission because the
company applied a rate Of tL16 per hundred
as a distance tariff rate on household goods
shipped by ]. S. Thrasher from oxford,
Neb., 10 Sheridan. Wyo. The former rate
was IS cents a hundred q. H. Crosby
freight traffic manager for the Burlington,
had in letter thrown the blame for this
charge upon an order OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission. MT Thrasher ap-
piled TO the Nebraska Railway Commission
in regard to reparation for an overcharge
The controversy originated because of |
the fact that the Interstate Commerce |
Commission adopted rule requiring rail-
roads TO publish more speciflctariff sheets. |
Many of the old tariff. sheets contained an /
intermediate clause which provided that be- !
tween terminals no higher rate should be |
charged The roads were ordered to cease
this indefinite manner OF publishing tar
ifs. The Burlington cancelled this inter-
mediate rate, but the Interstate Commerce
Commission says the cancellation did not
contemplate that shippers should be left
without a reasonable rata
Letter from Interstate Body.
Secretary e. A. Moseley Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission has written the fol-
lowing letter to Mr.. Crosby Of the Burling-
ton;
Dear Sir: Acknowledgement is made
Of the receipt OF your letter OF the I'D
inst. in reference to complaint OF Mr.. j.
8. Thrasher concerning the rate charged
by your company for the transportation
Of carload shipment Of emigrant NOV
ables from oxford, Neb. TO Sheridan, Wyo.
August, 1909.
Your statement that tho application
of the Missouri river rate was discontinued
on order Of the Interstate Commerce com
mission and that the action of the COM
mission compelled your company to adj
vance the rate. is not in accordance with
the facts; neither was the advance rate
OF N.1e approved by the commission as
stated by Mr.. Thompson in his letter of
March 80. 1t Is true that the commission
laid down certain rules In regard to the
construction of freight tariffs which made
II necessary for carriers to discontinue
applying rates intermediary in the alb
sence OF specific tariff provisions there
for but order Of this commission made
II necessary for your company to cancel
the previous rate of 80 cents per 100 pounds
and to establish in lieu thereof the rate
OF $1.16 per 100 pounds. charged.
NJ 10 OOmDany'g DUTY.
THE commissions order in regard to
the use Of tariffs containing a long and
short haul clause, maximum rules and
alternative rate provisions shippers should
be left without a reasonable rate by can
collation. Of rules OF that character II the
S-cent rate was a reasonable rate for the
transportation In question IL was the duty
* of your company to provide the proper
tariff provision for the application of that
rate. The order of the commission was
issued on January T. 1905 and the carriers
were given until October 1. 1905 TO revise
their tariffs In accordance with its pro-
visions. There was therefore, ample OBJ
portunity given to carriers to amend their
tariffs to conform to the requirements of
the order and at the same time provide
for the establishment of reasonable rates
1T is the duty of the carrier to have
in force just and reasonable rates at
all times; the fact that the commission
prescribed a particular method of pub
fishing rates can not be pleaded as an
excuse for charging an unreasonable OF
excessive rate which may have automati-
cally become effective through the can
collation. OF tariff provision which the
commission had condemned as being i'm.
proper.
Rate Out of Proportion.
Tile rate of N.1s. as charged on this
shipment appears to be altogether out OF
proportion to the rate of So cents previously
in effect and which was subsequently re-
established.
"The commission will therefore thank
you to consider the matter further and
advise whether in view OF the very grea
advance in rate caused by failure to make
provision for continuing the rate of IS cent.
in affect the case is not one peculiarly
entitled TO be presented for adjustment
on the special docket OF course II you ad
here TO your original conclusion. the ques
ton of whether or not reparation shoul(
be awarded can only be determined by tn,
commission on formal complaint after full
hearing"
school House Campaign.
The republican state committee toda,
sent out letters to all county chairmen re
questing the immediate Inauguration of
school house campaign In the interest
OF the state and local tickets. The com
mittee desires that meetings be held II
every school district In the state. Tn
county chairmen are urged TO have ever.
local county or legislative candidate on tn
platform and the state committee promise
20 render assistance with speakers iron
the state ticket by enlisting the service
OF other prominent republicans. The letter
emphasize the desire OF the committee tina
some action be taken Immediately. Count
chairmen are asked to report to the stat
headquarters at once regarding the ar
rangements which they may make.
Frank Taylor Killed.