The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-07-28
FREIGHT CHARGES FROM EAST
30 POINTS IN ROCKY MT.
DISTRICT AFFECTED.
BY DECISION OF |. C. c.
Carriers in spokane-Reno Cases Given
Till Oct. IS to Fix Tariffs
Bars Roads From Fixing
Market Limits.

known as the Spokane-Reno-Pacific
coast cases the interstate commerce
commission ordered material reduc-
ton In freight rates from the East
to points between Denver and West
ern terminals of the great transcon.
tinental railroads.
For many years the railroads have
exacted from shippers to intermediate
points, such as Spokane and Reno.
higher rates on Eastern freights than
were charged for the much longer
hauls to Seattle, San Francisco and
other Pacific coast points.
The theory has been that the rail-
roads must meet water competition to
the Pacific coast. The higher rates
to intermediate points, arbitrarily
fixed, have been defended by a COM
parison with the coast rates. plus a
theoretical back-haul from the coast
to the inland stations along the line.
The commission recognizes the
right of a railway to meet water COM
petition to Pacific coast points. but
practically wipes out the back-haul
tatCS W ihtti-nothg
tory. II lays down what it considers
would be fair and just rates to vari.
Gus freight zones in the West and
gives until October Is to adjust the
tariffs accordingly.
Limit Fixing Barred.
The commission also lays down the
important principle that hereafter rail-
roads will not be permitted to fix ar.
bitrary market limits and that here
after commercial conditions rather
than the will of the railway traffic
managers shall control rates on trans
continental transportation.
The decisions are of far-reaching
character. They affect directly all
rates between the Atlantic ocean and
the Pacific coast. Particularly they
affect the rates in the territory lying
between Denver and Pacific coast
points. Hereafter the rates paid by
shippers will be governed by a strict
Interpretation of the long-and-sho
haul clause.
The commission holds in the social
GU vase lhdt
at Chicago and in Chicago territory
moving under commodity rates may
have a rate per cent higher to in
termediate points than that imposed
I'm freight originating in Chicago and
Chicago territory destined to the Pa.
cific coast terminals. From Buffalo
Pittsburg territory the rates may rise
lAn,anlAl ha
points to Pacific coast terminals to
the extent of 13 per cent, while from
New York and trunk line territory
the rates charged shall not exceed %
per cent over Pacific coast terminal
rates.
These are the first decisions an.
nounced by the commission In which
a definite principle In respect to the
long-and-short-haul provision is laid
down. While the opinions fully rec.
| ognize the influence of water competi.
ton. to a marked extent they draw a
| line upon indiscriminate market
competition.
The cases involved are those of the
city of Spokane against the Northern
/ fdClHC ndilNdS NOIHpdny, hHO"H pop
ularly as the Spokane rate case;
the Commercial club of Salt Lake
City against the Atchison. Topeka
Santa Fe Railway Company and 9th
ers: the railroad commission of Ne
yada against the Southern Pacific
Company and others, and the Mari
copa County Commercial club agains
the Santa Fe. Prescott & Phoeni,
Railway Company and other carriers
lnasmueh as the cases general.
dovetail into one another the commits
sion announces its decisions In two
opinions. In brief, the commission
takes the view which It took In ii.
opinions of the same cases announced
a year ago last June. At that tim,
the commission said II would max,
no order respecting the rates which
II suggested might be put into effec
until 1t had had opportunity to deter
mine from reports made to 1t by tn,
carriers Of the probable effect Of tn,
suggested rates