The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-04-03
THE GOVERNORS CASE,

The committee Of governors appoint
ed at the Governor s Conference to
fight in the Supreme Court the de.
cision of the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission in the Minnesota rate case, is
performing its work. Governor Har-
mon. acting in behalf of the governors
by authority conferred. has fled his
brief protesting against the invasion of
State authority by the Interstate Com
merce Commission in intrastate freight
age. But, whenever this intrastate
freightage conflicts with the rates es-
tablishcd for interstate transportation,
and conflict arises thereupon it is
impossible for the United States TO
give way The case was as where the
State of Minnesota established freight
rates from st. Paul to Duluth. making
those rates lower than the rates from
st. Paul to Superior City, in Wiscon-
sin, which was interstate transporta.
tion. 1t is manifest that if the State
could rightly do this, il could build
up A shipping point for -four from
Minneapolis via Duluth on the lakes,
for instance, that would cut off SUI
perior City from all participation in
that traffic. The haul was identical,
and the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion insisted that the rates must be
made identical. The Circuit Court of
the United States for the Eighth Ju-
dicial Circuit upheld the contention of
bo Tpto q,
and ruled accordingly, making the rates
even.
1t is this principle that Governor
Harmon, acting by authority for the
other governors, is contesting in the
L. S. Supreme Court. But his argu-
monts are all Of the old State rights
order. He insists that as long as the
State is content with the intrastate
freight rates so established, and as
the railroads comply with them with
out contest. there is no reason for in
reference by the authority OF the
United States. But that logic assumes
the very question at issue The In.
terstate Commerce Commission insists
that there is reason for interference,
that the iutrastate rates thus estab.
lished operate to the disadvantage of
Superior City and in favor of Duluth,
where there is no difference in the
haul, and where they are naturally
competitive points. But the confirm
ing of the intrastate rate would make
Duluth The shipping point for all of
the -four from Minnea polls, and Superior
City would get none, The iutrastate
rate, therefore. would thus act as a
destructive discrimination against Su-
perior City. Manifestly, if States are
allowed to interfere in this way, with
the general freight rates established
for interstate business throughout the
country, particularly as affecting re.
lated localities, then the Interstate
Commerce Commission would be baffled
and would be unable TO do its work
fairly and reasonable.
We note all the points that Governor
Harmon makes in his brief; but really
we cannot see that be goes to the root
of the matter at all, His argument
DO this injustice and infict this injury
upon competing city il it sees fit
But that is exactly what the law and
regulations of the Interstate Commerce
Commission arc intended to forbid
The case will be presented clearly
and fairly on the equities of it, and
since Governor Harmon has raised the
question that the State is entitled to
deal unfairly if it sees fit, the question
OF fair dealing and just treatment will
necessarily arise in the final disposi-
ton of the case. and We have not the
least doubt that the jurisdiction and
supervision Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission will be fully affirmed.
MOTHERS REQUIREMENTS.