Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-04-02
Government Files Its Brief in
What Are Known as Missouri
River Rate Cases.
MANY INTERESTS INVOLVED.
Arguments Are Set for Monday Next.
When Great Forensic Battle
VIII Ensuc.

Washington, April The biggest
freight rate fight since the passage of
the Hepburn rate bill entered its final
stages today when the government filed
IN the supreme court Of the United
states a brief in the so-called Missouri
river rate cases. They involve the in
terests Of manufacturers. jobbers. mer-
chants and railroads from the Atlantic
seabOard 10 the Rock mountains
The two cases which have attracted
the most attention are those concern
ing the rates on through shipments
originating at Atlantic seaboard points
and destined 10 the Missouri river
cities The third case involves the class
rates from Chicago and from ST. Louis
90 Denver.
The two first cases arise out Of an
order issued by the interstate com
merce commission to become effective
Nov. TO- 1908. This order directed "a
reduction Of the rates for the trans
pOrtation Of various classes Of freight
originating at Atlantic seaboard points.
from Mississippi river crossings To the
Missouri river cities.
The order was the result Of COM
plants filed with the commission by
Durham, Hanna, Munger Dry Goods
company and a large number Of in
dividuals. partnerships and corpora
tions, as shippers iobbers and whole
salers at Kansas city St Joseph and
Omaha. They claimed that the rates
charged by carriers operating between
the Atlantic seaboard, which includes
cities east Of Plttsburg and north Of
the Potomac and Missouri river cities,
were unjust unreasonable and dis
oriminatory.
II was particularly specified that the
rates Disseminated IN favor Of St Paul
and Minneapolis Finally. the commits
sion disposed Of the case by ordering a
reduction OF the charges for transporta-
tion from the Mississippi river cross
ings To the Missouri river cities as a
part of the through rate. The commits
sion denied that the rates Disseminated
IN favor Of the Twin tiles.
Before the rates went into effect. thu
matter was taken INTO the courts by
the railroads. The result was that the
circuit court of the United states for
the northern district Of Illinois held the
order unlawful one appeal by the COM
mission and another by Missouri river
shippers We're taken 20 the supreme
court As the fight progressed add
tiOnal parties entered the fray The
Kansas city, ST Joseph and Omaha
shippers interviewed 10 fight for the or
der Sioux CITY asked the courts for
the same Dement'S as given Kansas city.
ST. Joseph ana Omaha. St Paul and
Minneapolis business men entered the
controversy In behalf OF their trade.
Chicago, St Louis Detroit and Cleve-
lard shippers Joined
Meanwhile the government is seeking
to maintain the order of the commits
sion Even If GO is successful. the order
viii die. by reason OF the two-year nm
itation on the interstate commerce
commission orders, on Nov. 10, 1910
Tho Denver rate case raises substan-
TALLY the same questions as To the pow
ers Of the interstate commerce COM
mission as is done in the other cases.
The arguments are set FOR Monday
but they probably VIII not be reached
until later I'M the week.