The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-03-03

Washington, Feb. 25.-The inter-
state commerce commission has de-
cided against the railroads in both
tho Eastern" and the Western"
cases.
proposed advances in class freight
rates in official classification terri
torv. aggregating among all the rail
WAYS in the territory approximately
s27OOO,OO0 a year, were disapproved
bv the commission.
In the case involving the increases
nv the railroads in Western trunk line
territory, the commission also de-
clined to approve the proposed ad-
vances in commodity rates.
The carriers, in both cases, are re-
ouired to cancel on or before March
10. their advanced tariffs and restore
their former rates, which are the
rates now in effect. If this require
ment be not complied with, the com
mission will issue a formal order sus-
pending the proposed advances and
putting into effect the existing rates
for at least two years.
Santa Fe Wins Case.
In the case of the railroad commits
sion of Texas against the Atchison
Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad and
other carriers, known popularity as
the Southwestern rate case, the COM
mission declined to disturb the COM
modify rates or the first-class rates
complained of.
The defendants are ordered, how
ever, to reduce the second-class rates,
which were increased from $1.21 to
$129, to $1.25. In the remaining
classes the defendants are required to
restore the rates in effect before the
increased rates were published.
In brief, this is the disposition
made by the interstate commerce
commission of the most important
cases ever brought to it's attention
Gals and other experts who had fol-
lowed closely the proceedings, the ma
jority of whom believed the commits
sion would grant some increase to
the western lines, if not to the east.
ern.
Difficulty in East.
The commission conceded that in
the case of some of the roads an in
creased revenue is needed. In what
IS known as the Eastern case, the
commission was embarrassed by the
admltted fact that several of the lines
IN the territory were paying good divi-
bends upon existing rates, while other
carriers in the same territory were
hardly able to make both ends meet
d lew of them scarcely that. In the
western case, the carriers entered a
powerful plea for increased revenue
IN order that they might have addi-
uonal money to put into improve
ments and betterments, which would
enable them to handle with greater
facility the constantly increasing traf-
nc OF the country.
The same argument was advanced
IN support of the proposed advances
III omclal classification territory, but
commissioner Prouty, who wrote the
opinion in the Western case, says:
Public Not Responsible.
ms argument does not appeal co
US We doubt the practical difficulty
suggested (that of obtaining by loan
Suillclent money to finance the roads)
anu were 1t true, it is not apparent
'nat the general public should stand
responsible for the mistakes which
nave been made in financing these
railroad systems"
hotn the Eastern and Western
cases were brought to public atten
.ion IN the spring of 1910. Just prior
~ the enactment of the existing in
'erstate commerce law, which, in part
pecame effective June IS, 1910, the
always of the official classification
'errltory-forty-one in all-and those
VI western trunk lines association
territory filed with the interstate com
nerce tariffs making genearl in
creases in their freight rates.
Scope of the Increases.
Inc tariffs filed by the Eastern line.
increased the first-class rate betwee,
new York and Chicago points 1!
cents hundred pounds, from Is to 81
cents' and made proportionate ad
'ances on the other five classes. Som,
advances also were made on com
modify rates, but the great bulk of tn
commodity tonnage of freight was no
disturbed. The proposed advance
anected approximately Is per cent Q
tne total freight tonnage. Approx
mately the same amount OF tonnag
was affected by the Western lines
oue the class rates were not affecte,
III any way. Commodities alone wer
increased, the average advance O.
ABOUT 104 different articles being sui
s'antlally Is per cent, the increas
varying about per cent in som
eases to SO per cent In others.
The opinion holds that .the carrier
nave not by showing that the II