Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-25

with this order carriers must estab-
lish rates in substantial accord with
those suggested by us 1t should be
! ever borne in mind that the acute
complaint in this ease is the discrim
ination and net the unreasonable rate
Obedience 10 this order will douht-
less result i'll some rates from the
East which are higher and in others
which are lower than those suggest
ed by the commission since we Gid
not then feel at liberty, as the COM
/ plainants requested. to make the Spo-
kane rate depend upon the coast rate.
But it rs likely that the resulting
schedule VIII be more satisfactory tG
the compliments and no more bur
densome upon the defendants. If the
carriers establish under this DISPOSE
ton Of the case rates to Spokane
which are excessive, further orGer
ear be mace in this proceeding reduc-
ing them t. proper basis
In an elaborate discussion Of the
long and short-haul provision in the
so-called Reno case and the Phoenix
Arizona case, Commissioner Lane,
who prepared the opinions il these
cases for the Commission asserts that
III must be affirm ativelY shown by the
carriers seeking exceptions To the
longand- short -hanl provisions that
an injustice win not be done to inter
mediate points by allowing lower rates
20 the more distant points
The intentment of the amended
law" says Commissioner Lane, lis to
make its prohibition of the higher rate
no oh, f4ta ~ Npbi1-
RICH universal application from which
this commission may deyiate only in
special cases and then TO meet trans
portalion circumstances which are
beyond the carriers control"
1t is held that 'in the light of history
il is not to be gainsald that the trans
continental lines must give consideration
to sea competition 1t was held, also
however. that the carriers herein involv-
ed have not shown that undue diserimina-
ton was not effected by their rate ad-
justments between points in Nevada and
points in California nor have they es-
tablished that the rates to the coast
cities, If extended by them from Eastern
points outside the zone of water infiu-
ence. are not fully compensatory
The transcontinentaI carriers, therefore,
are ordered TO readjust their present
rates by Oct. Is next, from Eastern ter
ritories TO intermediate points as COM
pared with the rates from Nevada points
TO the Pacific coast This will make a
reduction of rates TO Reno and Nevada
common points from the East of approx
mately SO .l-3 per cent.
In the course of the opinion, Commits
sioner Lane says:
I'VE desire to be extremely eonserya-
tive in this first application of the new
law. and to require an adjustment of
rates that will be safely within the zone
of our discretion. For this reason We
have decided that the transeontinental
carriers serving Reno ana other points
upon the main line of the Central Pacific
shall make no higher charges upon any
article carrying a commodity rates than
is contemporaneously in effect from Mis-
souri, river points, such as Omaha and
Kansas City, to coast terminal points.
This principle We shall also expect to be
applied on commodity rates to all main
line intermediate points in Nevada and
California.
Some of the petitions under the fourth
section are made by carriers reaching
California terminals through southern
Nevada and Arizona Those applications
for relief are denied insofar as they in
volye the imposition of higher rates.