The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1912-04-25
NEVADA TO HAVE
COMMODITY RATES

Relief for Nevada shippers in the
matter Of transcontinetal commodity
freight rates is now in sight, and
there is little doubt but what the
rates on all commodities shipped from
eastern defined territory to Reno and
other Nevada points will be in effect
within the course of three months
from this time.
The above conclusion has been
reached by the members of the Ne
vada State Railroad commission, and
is based upon the fact that an order
has just been received from the inter
state commerce commission fixing
May 8, 1912, as the date for all par
ties to the case commonly known as
the Reno terminal case to appear in
d. C.,and show cause why
rates should not be forth
with put into effect between eastern
defined territory and Reno, Nevada.
The order of the interstate commerce
commission reads as follows:
At general session of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, held at it's
Office in Washington, D. c., on the
18th day of Aril, A. D. 1912.
Charles A. Prouty, Judson C. Glenn
mems, Franklin X. Clark, James 8.
Harlan, Charles G. McChord and
Balthasar R. Meyer, Commissioners.
Railroad Commission of Nevada.
VS..
Southern Pacific Company, ct al.
The commission having under con-
sideration the propriety Of putting in
to effect forthwith the commodity
rates between eastern defined terri
tory and Reno, Nevada,
It is ordered, That the case be set
down for further hearing at Washing
ton, at 10 O'Clock in the forenoon Of
May 8, 1912, and that at that time
all parties be allowed to show cause
why just and reasonable commodity
rates should not be forthwith estab-
lished
BY THE COMMISSION.
J. s. MARBLE, Secretary.
1t will be remembered that the in
terstate commerce commission never
did enter specific order in the Reno
case 50 far as commodity rates wree
concerned, but disposed of that case
together with the Spokane and Phoe-
nix cases, in one sweeping order, un-
der the provisions of the fourth sec-
ton, as amended, covering practical
ly the entire intermountain region,
any specific orders in the
above named cases at that time This
order of the commission s, however,
was restrained from going into effect
by the United States commerce court,
which took the position that under
the amended fourth section of the in
terstate commerce act, the commission
had exceeded its powers by entering
such sweeping order covering practi-
cally the entire intermountain region,
when under the amended act as in
depreciation by the court, any excep-
tions to the long and short haul clause
of the law could only be granted in
speclfic cases, i. e., by considering
each and every commodity rate in and
of itself and fixing reasonable rate
for the transportation of the same.
This is the point in controversy to be
decided by the supreme court of the
United States.
In the Salt Lake case the commission
entered a specific order setting forth
the rates to be charged on various
for transportation from
eastern points to Utah common points,
and the commerce court upheld the
s order, and the people of
Utah are already enjoying the bene-
fits of the reduced rates
After the commerce court had
ruled against the commission in the
fourth section orders covering the
Reno, Spokane and Phoenix eases, an
appeal was taken to the supreme court
of the United States, which heard the
case in February, 1912, eight members
of the supreme bench being present.
During the present month the supreme
court ordered rehearing in the case
to take place during the October term
Of the court, before the entire bench,
of nine members This
meant delay in any relief that the
people of the intermountain region
might obtain, with a possibility that
the decisio nof the commerce court
might be upheld and the fourth sec
ton order of the interstate commerce
held null and void, thus
leaving the intermountain region with
put relief.
Immediately upon hearing that the
commerce court had issued an injunc-
ton against the fourth section order
Of the interstate commerce commmis-
sion, the Nevada State Railroad COM
mission sent an urgent petition to the
commerce commission ask
ing for a specific order in the Reno
case, and the order just re-
.eived by the state commission signi-
ies that the federal commission is now
to enter specific order in
the Reno case soon after the hearing
set for May s, 1912. and which will
be upheld by the com
nerce court in line with its action on
The order in the Salt Lake rate case.
If the commerce court should hold the
order of the federal commission as
void it would be reversing its decis-
on in the above named case.
The people of Nevada can therefore
feel reasonably sure that relief will be
within very short time,
and while full terminal rate from
al eastern territory may not be grant