The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-22
RATE CASES TO
Be DECIDED
Supreme Court Will Con.
vene Next Monday After
Three Weeks Vacation.

Washington, d. c., Feb. 22.-One or
more decisions Of unusual importance
are expected to be handed down by
the supreme court Of the United
states when the court reconvenes next
Monday after a three weeks recess.
Again the prediction Is being made
that the decisions in the Minnesota
rate cases and the Intermountain rate
cases are at last forthcoming. OF the
urally attached to the so-called Min.
nesota case. The 'Intermountain' or
Spokane" rate cases involve the con-
s~titutionality Of the long and short
haul amendment of 1910 to the act to
regulate commerce, while the Minne-
sofa case hinges upon the broad ques-
ton OF the power Of a state to con-
troll the affairs Of a company doing an
interstate business. The supreme
courts decision in this case promises
to define more clearly the question:
abe dividing line between state and
federal rights. 1t was q recognition
OF the importance Of the case from
the latter standpoint that caused 1t to
De seriously discussed at the memoir
able conference OF governors held at
Spring Lake, n. j., several years ago.
The Minnesota rate cases have been
under Amusement for a long time.
They originated nearly seven years
ago in the action Of the Minnesota
railway commission in ordering the
railways in that state to make q num-
Der of rate reductions, including many
Of the commodity rates, and reduc-
lions amounting to a little more than
20 per cent on the average in the
class rates.
An agreement was afterwards
reached by the commission and the
railways, by which agreement, in COM
alteration OF the commission with
drawing the commodity rates 1t had
ordered. the railways agreed to the
class rates ordered. accepting them
as equitable. Notwithstanding this
agreement. action was later taken
against the agreed rates in the United
states circuit court at St. Paul, the
plaintiffs being, not the railway COM
panies. but individual stockholders,
the railway companies. however, An
ancing the litigation and the railway
lawyers conducting it. The result
was a decision by Judge Sanborn that
the class rates in Minnesota should
revert to what they were before the
20 per cent reductions were made.
The Minnesota railway commission
sFHSASS LILO o0uOVIu 0OCl0lOu
to the supreme court Of the United
States. The decision Of the highest
tribunal in the Minnesota case will be
Of the greatest importance, both in its
immediate bearing on the fortunes Of
the railway operating in that state
and in its effect on the wider question
Of the right of a state legislature OF
commission to control the affairs Of a
company doing an interstate business.
The decision will apply not only to the
Minnesota case, but also to a number
Of similar g that have arisen in
Kansas. Kentucky, West Virginia, Mis-.
souri, and other states.
The railways predict with every ap-
p%earance of genuine confidence that
the principle OF non-interference by
the states with rates, or other matters
in connection with the operation of
railroads doing an interstate business,
will be finally laid down by the high
est tribunal. In other words, they ex-
pect that the decisive victory won by
the Great Northern. Northern Pacific
and Minneapolis and st. Louis, when
the legality Of the rate reductions or
dered by the state railroad and ware
house commission Of Minnesota was
passed upon by the judges of the cir.
cult court, will be upheld by the su.
preme court Of the United states.