The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1911-05-26
RAILWAY COMMISSION
WILL TAKE EVIDENCE
In Re ReasOnabIeness of Dis.
tributiVe Rates.
SeVera! Lines to Be lnVestis ated--
State Liquor, Auto and Cycle Liz
censes--H. a. Fairchild Trans
ferred to Utilities Commission.

Olympia, May 24-On June 5, 1911,
in Spokane, the state railroad commits
sion will take evidence in regard to the
reasonableness of distributive rates on
all railroads in all sections of the state,
and in addition will finish taking testi-
mony to establish the actual physical
valuation of the Spokane & Inland En-
pire system, which road has filed as in
tervenor in the distributive rate case
1t will take evidence in regard to the
reasonableness of the joint rates with
the Great Northern main line and of
Joint rates of other lines running into
Spokane, and will also inquire into the
reasonableness of the rates on the Spo
kane Falls & Northern branch Of the
Great Northern, which was consolidated
with and made a part of the Great
Northern system 1t is alleged that the
rates on this road have never been re-
duced and have been excessive, and a
reduction is sought by the cOmplainants.
Number State Liquor Licenses.
A statement has been prepared by the
state tax commission showing the num-
Der of state liquor licenses in the various
counties OF the state, according to which
it appears that in Whitman county there
are 55 such licenses, which pay into the
state treasury the sum Of $3.50, while
for the entire state there are 1903 state
liquor licenses, paying to the state the
sum OF $57 ,575. More than one fourth
of the entire number OF licenses were
granted in King county, OF 500, paying
to the state the sum of $14, 800. Island
county has but one license, while Spo-
kane county has 31S, Pierce county 157, ,
Chehalis county 134 and Snohomish
county 100.
Auto and Cycle Licenses.
For the purpose of checking up auto
mobile and motorcycle licenses, begin
ming June l, Secretary of State Howell
viii send out a number OF men to all
parts of the state. This will be done to
compel a number of those who have
evaded the payment for years to comply
with the law, and if the owner of an
automobile or motorcycle refuses to pGy
the license required by law be will be
arrested and prosecuted.
An Efficient Official.
The appointment by the governor OF
IA. A. Fairchild, chairman of the state
railroad commission, as a member OF
the new public utilities commission will
take effect June 8, one day after the new
law goes into effect His present COM
mission expires June s. 1911, and his
new commission will expire June 8, 1917.
The other two members of the board, J
c. Lawrence and Jesse s. Jones, will be
the other two members of the commits.
sion in accordance with the law which
provides for their retention. The gov
ernor says that in appointing Mr.. Fair.
child he is following out his policy of re-
appointing men who have "made good"
Mr.. Fairchild has an excellent record as
a member of the state railroad commits
sion, having assisted in the preliminary
organization of the commission, con-
Quoting most OF the examination of wit
nesses at the hearings which established
hn ,nl e l. =,
Washington, and has handled the inter-
urban rate case on the electric line be-.
tween Seattle and Tacoma. He took an
important part in the famous wheat
rate case, which netted the farmers of
Eastern Washington 100000 a year as
the result OF the commissions order
making a reduction of rates on wheat,
and is now practically conducting the
hearing on the distributive rate case.
Two More Appointments.
Announcement has been made of the
reappointment of A. A. Tozer of Everett
as state oil inspector by Governor Hay,
and also OF the appointment to succeed
o. W. Stone, member OF the embaImers'
examiners, OF Julius Lyse of Wilbur.
Commissioners, Take Notice!
For inspecting roads in their districts
county commissioners are not author
lied to receive compensation under the
law for services performed while acting
as ex-oficio members of the board. ac-
cording to an opinion rendered bv As
sistant Attorney General Lyle to the
state bureau of inspection.
In an opinion to the state tax com.
mission the attorney generals Office also
holds that where a retail and Wholesale
liquor business is conducted by the same
man in the same building that he must
have two state licenses.
a Brief Session.