The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-08
BIG RATE
Fight On
Return Rate on Defective
Machinery Is Asked
ROADS SAT IT WAS ABUSED
MANUFACTURERS WANT OLD
HALF RATE ON MACHINERY
FOR REPAIR-THE RAILROADS
CLAIM THAT IT WAS USED FOR
SHIPPING SCRAP IRON.

SHIPPING SCRAP IRON.
The North Dakota railroad commits
sioners held an interesting session az
the commercial club this morning for
the purpose Of taking UP the petition
filed by the Minneapolis Threshing
Machine Co. and others for the restor-
alton of the ne-half rate on return
shipments OF agricultural implements
for repair purposes.
Prior to May. 1910 such rate had
been In force as part OF the published
tariff rates OF the railroads. Claiming
that there was abuse of this rate on
the part Of the large implement ship
pers who were thought to be using
these rates for the purpose of re-
turning scrap iron, the railroads re-
stored the full rate.
T. A. McGrath of Minneapolis. as
sistant manager of the MINNEAPOLIS
Traffic association and traffic man
Of tweny-f five years standing formerly
in the employ of the Union Pacific rail.
road and other roads in their traffic
department was the only witness
called this morning. His examination
was lengthy, lasting more than an
hour.
In his examination. Mr.. McGrath
stated that many of the freight rates
were iniquitous and had been greatly
abused by certain shippers which had
led to the intervention OF the interstate
commerce commission and the adop-
ton OF the tariff rules, June IA.
1909. He stated that the tariff re-
visions were loosely constructed and
loosely construed and were noted for
the lack OF uniformity. He charged
that the various railroad lines scrambi-
ed for business and made these rules
conform to the shipper. Owing to the
inability Of many to interpret the tar
in and It's provisions and revisions,
application had to most generally be-.
made to the tariff departments of the
various carriers.
Mr.. McGrath declared that when the
interstate commerce commission suR-
gested revision the carriers did MOTH
Ing for eleven months and that the
traffic association he represented was
the first TO take any action that had
any results In enforcing these rules
in its appeal to the carriers.
Want Rate Restored.
The complainant petitions for the
restoration of the one-haR rate on the
return shipment of agricultural i'm
plements for repair purposes. This
restoration has been made in Minneso-s.
IA, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Okla
homa, Louisiana and Illinois. A sinh
lar petition was heard by the South !
Dakota railroad commission but no de-
cision has been made there owing to i
an application for rehearing. Onl
Mr. McGrath's statement this was said
to be for the reason that the petition
in the sister state covered more than
agricultural implements Two roads
traversing that state. the Northwest
ern and the Minneapolis & St. Louis,
were the petitioners for second hear
ing. Only one of these roads enters
North Dakota
Attorney Murphy for the Great NOR
thern railroad OF Grand Forks con-
Quoted the examination for the car
riers. His cross examination OF the
witness was lengthy and detailed. He
asked Mr.. McGrath what other points
aside from Fargo and Grand Forks in
this state would be affected by the re-
storation Of these rates, and IL any
repairs could be made by the branch
house Of the implement concerns at
either Of these two points. Mr.. Nc
Grath did not know what other cities
In North Dakota would be affected, but
he believed very extensive repairs
could be and were made at the branch
establishments of the agricultural I'm
pliment concerns in both cities.
Following the cross examination of
Mr.. Murphy Commissioner Mann ask
ed the witness IL he give any specific
instance of any OF the alleged abuses
of the shippers and Mr.. McGrath ans
wered that he could not. He said that
the original rate placed one halr
tariff rate TO include every commodity
with the exception Of live stock and
oil. but that all the petitioners were
asking for was for the restoration of
the one-half rate on agricultural I'm
| pliments.
The hearing did not begin this morn
| ing until 11:45. owing to the inability
| TO procure court reporter to record
the proceedings II lasted until 1:15
o'clock, when a recess was taken un.
/ til 2 o'clock.
| AS the hearing was quite an infor-
NAL one, the witness was not compell-
ed to take the sancitity Of an oath and
Attorney Murphy wittily stated that
was reform he advocated In all court
procedure as he felt II was needless.
! All the commissioners, including o.
r. n. Anderson of Starlweather, w.
Fl. Mann Of New Salem and w. H
stutsman OF Mandan, and the secretary
OF the commission Thomas Hall. were
present Attending the meeting were
all the local representatives OF the rail-
I roads that enter Fargo asfde from sew
! eral witnesses who win be called tEis
afternoon.
slTrNEAKI ViTgnfl OOOT