New-York tribune., 1911-09-21
CUT RATES ON FLOUR STAY
Commerce Commission Refuses
TO Suspend Reductions.


protest Of the Eastern trunk lines. the In
terstate Commerce Commission to-day de
cIined 70 suspend a proposed reduction in
the rail-and-lake rate on flour from Mime
sofa transfer points 10 New York by way
Of Duluth, and also refused 20 permit the
Eastern lines 10 withdraw their concur
renee IN the reduced rate.
The commission considers its decision tho
most important freight traffic action taken
for many months and likely 20 cause pro
fr7cted litigation. r affects The enormous
-four traffic between the Minnesota terri
tory and tho East. exclusive of shipments
for export. affecting all Intermediate -four
milling interests. particularlv at Buffalo.
Tariffs wero filed recently with 'hc COM
mission by tho Chicago. S. Paul, Mime
spoIz & Omaha Railway reducing The
rate on -four from Minnesota transfer
no;n+z br way OF Duluth and tho lakes
~ Vow YorI, from - cents - 2l'4 cents
q hundred pounds The Western trunk
lines filed similar tariff, making the
same rate from Minnesota transfers 80
Vow York bv way Of Chicago Both tariffs.
-hich affect only existing domestic rates
IN flour were made effective on October o.
,rcCa,r chairman Of the trunk line
committee. protested. and requested
the commission either to suspend the
tariffs or so permit the Eastern lines 10
withdraw their participation IN them on
sg,r+ notice The commission declined 10
guenend the tariffs because "it is not be
7,.,,ed or beIievablc' 90 ST says that congress
Intended that the power 70 suspend Id''9
should be exercised when rates are VoIlh-
tariI, reduced by carrier and WheF' Ul'''
determination. does not appear on ihe lace
of -be tariff IT, iS asserted IN the protest
of +b. trunk lines that the reduced rates
ill result I'm much loss of revenue TO mem
becausa tho reductions necessarily VIII oe
Collov-ed bv reductions IN rates from rela'-
"a ,,-,+e This may be. but the matter
.t,.... .,,,e.rs 20 be- one for adjustment be-
80, .tro Interested carriers, and not prop
e-1,. NV the commission under the law.
,r,t, ..,ror,iseion received many telegrams
from Gour mlllers M Intermediate points
-r.+ae+iuc AGAINST the proposed tarlHa anu
y.,.,,,, tba+ they would uuiustlv discrimi
,s+o against them 81 reduced rates We're n''
.4. oeecriye from int" 'diate p''''.
, -,,.,, they. become effective from NI''"
..o,, transfers. The commission announce
/ t,s, f. cannot assume. iu law that s"'N -
| ..,t. NJ affairs would result, onl '
.,..r,d and the carriers do not estaoish
/ 80 -slstionship Of rates. the la" proF'''
/ = -r,,,ps bv which tine rates may 1e a'
justed. .,,,..,,.ropce in
t 49,, ,a~ifs on short notice was denied ny
/ - ,.,.,,,,ission because such action WouId
-.,,t,dr,c, the through routes and JOINT
-, thus resulting i'm much hishe'
,.,,.gca than are now effective. -nch a
condit,ou. in the opinion Of the c'hihIS-
80. ,ro,,ld be worse than that against
r.bicb the protest is made.
,r,reapons. sept. 0O.-To-day.s decision
80 tbo Interstate Commerce COMMISSION
.,,f,.r,ing the lake-and-rah rate Oh Houi
Cr,,,, Minneapolis to New York is resaIa''
- ,s an .efrectual blow al trunk me
'i,,.i,,..tion Of the Great Lakes W. T.
Trickett. executive manager oI 'ii' W.
,,carolis Traffic Association, says the par
- the ruling which holds that the com
vrission has no power 20 suspend la"I"i''
..rt,ligi,ed tariff reducing rates Is OF espe'
i,1 .,o,,iecance. Under the decision, ac-
."rd,rg to Mr.. Trickett, Eastern TRUNK
lines must hencetOrth treat a'l 'a''
t.L. carriers as connecting lines. MN
! neapolis rnilIers have had for weeks nee
| of four boatg ready 10 sail at the "of"
| IL is said this feet could operate" "' INV
I