Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-25

No opinion is expressed as to the rates
from zope number five, which is farthest
east, because the rates from that territory
are not particularly involved An these de-
clsions, inasmuch as they generally are
controlled by ocean transportation to the
Pacific coast" rrft -,".
Roads to Adjust Tariff. '1.
In concluding the discussion of the Spo-
kane case. the commissions report says;
1T may be asked why the schedule of
rates suggested by the commission as rea-
sonable should not be ordered in. The
answer is that carriers should be per-
mitted insofar as possible to adjust their
own tariffs, and that It seems probable
that in compliance with this order carriers
must establish rates in substantial accord
with those suggested by US. It should We
ever borne in mind that the acute COM
plant in this case Is the discrimination
and not the unreasonable rate. Obedience
to this order will doubtless result in some
rates, from the east which are higher and
in others which are lower than those sug
gested by the commission since we did not
then feel at liberty, as the compliments
requested, to make the Spokane rate de-
that the resulting schedule will be more
satisfactory to the compliments and no
more burdensome upon the defendants, If
the carriers establish under this DISPOSE
ton of the case rates to Spokane which
are excessive a further order can be made
in this proceeding reducing them, to a
proper basis" '''">'
Lanes Discussion of Law.
In an elaborate discussion of the long
and-short haul provision In the so-called
Reno case and the Phoenix, Ariz., case
Commissioner Lane, who prepared the
opinions in these cases for the commits
sion asserts that 1T must be affirma-
lively shown by the carriers seeking ex-
ceptions to the long and-short haul provi-
sions that an injustice will not be done TO
intermediate points by allowing lower
rates to the more distant points. '
The intention of the amended a, Jaw"
says Commissioner Lane s4s 10 make its
prohibition Of the higher srate forf the
shorter haul rule Of well nigh Universal
application from which this commission
may. deviate only in special cases and then
to meet transportation, circumstances
which are beyond the carriers control"
1t Is held that ''in the hight of history It
is not to be gainsaid that the trahsoonti-
mental lines must give consideration TO sea
competition" 1t was held. alsos however,
that the carriers herein involved have not
shown that undue discrimination was not
effected by their rate adjustments between
points in Nevada and points in California;
nor, have they established that the rates
to the coast cities. II extended by them
from eastern points outside the zone of
water influence are not fully compen-
satory." ''
The transcontinental carriers, therefore,
are ordered to readJust their present rates
by octobe Is, next, from eastern territories
to intermediate points as compared with
the rates from Nevada points to the Pacific
coast. This will make a reduction of rates
to Reno and Nevada comInon points from
the east Of approximately sSSls per cent
Commission Il Conservative.
In the course Of the opinion, Commits
sioner Lane says:
I'VE desire TO be extremely conservative
In this first application Of the new
law, and to require an adjustment OF rates
that will DO safely within the zone OF our
discretion.
For this reason we have decided that the
transcontinental CARRIERS serving Reno and
other points upon the main line of the
Central Pacific shall make no higher
charges upon any article carrying com
modify rate than is contemporaneously in
effect from Missouri 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 Cali
fornia terminals through southern Nevada
and Arizona. Those applications for re-
lief are denied insofar as they involve the
imposition Of higher rates upon intermedi-
ate points than are applied on commodities
from the Missouri river TO Los Angeles,
san Francisco and other Pacific coast ter
minals." -~..