The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-05-03
TAPL|NESA ARE NOT
C0MMONCARR|ERS
COMMISSION HANDS DOWN DE-
cis,oN AFTER PROBE or
MORE THAN A YEAR.
SUSPEND DULUTH RATES.
Chicago Board Of Trades Grain Rate
Probe is Suddenly Dropped
Will Likely BE Taken up
Again Later On.

Again Later On.
Washington, May l. Tap lines
are not commOn carriers. That in gem
eral effect is the decision of the in
terstate commerce commission hand
ed down after an investigation of more
than a year.
The commission holds, however,
that each case must be determined on
its w facts. it being clear that some
so-called tap lines are entitled to the
privileges of common carriers. 1t ts
significant. however. that in every
one Of the SO tap line cases passed
upon by the commission. it is held
that none of them is a common car
rier with respect to the service 1t per-
forms for the proprietary lumber COM
pany."
The opinion in the case was rem
dered by Commissioner Harlan and
was concurred in by all members OF
the body. That it will result in ex-
tended litigation and eventually find
its way to the United States supreme
court seems a certainty. Involving an
Investigation of more than 1000 In
dustrial railroads and tens of millions
of dollars in capital invested. the tap
line case is one of the most important
proceedings ever undertaken by the
interstate commerce commission.
Nearly a year and q half ago the
tariffs filed by the trunk line rail-
roads %cancelling their divisions 6
rates with the tap lines and eliminat-
ing the privilege of through routes and
Joint rates. were suspended by the
commission. From time to time while
the matter had been under considera-
ton, the tariffs have been suspended
further by the voluntary action OF
the trunk lines in order that the COM
mission might have thorough oppor-
tunity to consider the complicated
question.
Immediately upon the announce
ment of the decision, attorneys for the
tap lines instituted efforts to obtain a
further suspension of the cancella-
lions that they might have legal time
in which to file with the commerce
! court proceedings I o restrain the pro-
| posed trunk line tariffs from becom-
ing effective. ,
The language of the commissions
opinion is that the cancellations by
the trunk lines will be allowed to BE-
come effective on May 1 Al provided
in the tariffs now on fle." :
1t is indicated. however. that such
tap lines as may be found subsequent
ly to be entitled to the privilege Of
common carriers will be fully pro-
tected by the commission.
In a supplementary opinion in which
he concurs with the general views Of
presses the view az to tap lines that
to prohibit or discourage legitimate
enterprises of this character is to deal
Q serious blow to the future develop
ments of this country.
Il believe that all these services
should be performed by the railroad
itself and that the shipper instead of
receiving an allowance for these &C
cessorial services, should be compelled
to pay a reasonable charge for every
service rendered outside the ordinary
transportation"
Grain Rate Probe Ends Suddenly.
Chicago.-Hearing OF the complaint
against the rates charged by railroads
on wheat and -four from the north
west fields and mills to Chicago, which
begun before a special examiner for
the Interstate commerce commission.
came to an abrupt end.
The representative Of the Chicago
board Of trade. which fled the com.
plant, objected to the method Of pro
cedure and moved that the complaint;
be dismissed. The complaint will, be
fled again In IN amended form in rev
eral months.
In grain and railroad circles it was
said the appeal to the interstate com
merce commission was Q conflict be-
tween the Chicago. board Of trade and
Minneapolis millers. The Chicago men
contended that the railroad rates wsrs
discriminatory against them and 70
vorable to the men Of the Minnesota
city.
Grain Tariffs Not 70 % RsnswpsA
Duluth.-The trafhc commissioa Of
the Duluth Commercial club resolved
supplement to the Canadian North
ern grain tariffs announcing that no
extension ON grain rates to Duluth and
the Twin Cities would be made. and
that the tariffs Win expire on the dates /.
originally intended. The tariR carry
Ing rates on export grain VIII expire
April 80. and that On domestic ship-
msnts Will expire May 81.
COLORADO FOR 4 &
peieaatee l-nserveeed Tor Him aFlrse.