The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-11-29

FARGO ACTION IS
DEEMED PREMATURE
Suits Lodged Against Railroads Be-
fore Interstate Com,neroe Conmis-
sion Create Changed Situation with
Respect to Alleged Discrimination.
Although an anti-litigation policy
was adopted. the Grand Forks Com
mercial club has been partly forced
to get into line by the action Of the
Fargo club in making complaints
with the interstate commerce COM
mission against the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific railroads. The
Grand Forks club is not q party to
the case. but of q necessity, will have
to play more or less Of . party to
protect local interests.
A meeting Of the trafiic eommittss
Wednesday, when a definite plan Of
action will be outlined. It Is impos-
sible to state just what steps will be
taken, but members of the commit
tee feel that they have been forced
to make some definite stand.
Suit Forces Issue.
This situation has been brouxha
about by the action of MoGill and
company and the Fargo Mercantile
attacking the existing Fargo RATES. In
their complaints. filed with the an
terstate commerce commission. they
declare that the difference in the
rates between Fargo and Moorhsad
is an unjust discrimination.
The Grand Forks Commercial club
has made the same contention In its
dealings with the railroads.
Cashman Act Also Coming.
In addition to this, q new rate law
the eastman distance tariff meas-
ure-will go into effect in Minnesota
January /, and this will cause stili
more trouble.
I'VE discussed this question thor.
oughly." said member Of the local
traffic committee today. "and We de-
cided that it was best to adopt IN anti
litigation policy. We felt that the
railroads would be fair when It came
to a final settlement, and we believed
that our policy would bring the de-
sired result.
Long Fight in Courts.
''There are so many things against
recourse to the interstate commercet
commission. In the first place. It
will cost an exceptionally large
amount to fight the. case as It should
be. In the second place, 1t probably
tioa, and, during ait II thsf s tisi,s I ~ uss az.
FSfft1gotft5ing the railroads and feaffy
hurting ourselves Then, too, II such
action is the only result, the logical
place to start It Is before our own rail-
road and warehouse commission. Then
when the case reaches; the interstate
commerce commission we would have
a legal state board assisting US, and.
it stands to reason. that we would
make q much better showing.
Fargo ssSpills the Beans"
I'VE decided that we could best ac-
complish our purpose by peaoeable
means, and We firmly believe that We
could have succeeded in a few months.
This Fargo action, however, may spill
the beans.' and we will have to de-
eide as soon as possible what stand
we are to take. Now that the case
has been started. We will have to
watch our interests and see that it Ia
about It is a mooted question at pres
ent."
Believed Time Essential.
Tho local club, however. deemed
it unwise to start any action at this
time. Owing to the fact that the
rates Of the two railroad companies
have been in an unsettled state since
the supreme court decision. they
thought it best not to rush the road
officials.
Local Situation PusslinS.
The Grand Forks rate situation has
been a puzzling proposition since tho
supreme court decision, which upheld
the Minnesota rates. When the low
rates, which are again in effect in
that state. were first established, the
railroads made a correspondingly low
rate to Grand Forks. Moorhsad and
Wahpeton. When the roads secured
the injunction prohibiting the en-
forcement Of the Minnesota rates.
Of course, increased the rates to the
three North Dakota cities.
Win the Minnesota rates were up
held, the railroads were forced to re-
turn to the low schedule. They re-
fused, however, to put Grand Forks.
Fargo and Wahpeton on the same ba-
sis.
| Complaint Formally Lodged.
The Grand Forks Commercial club
maintained that this was unjust dis
elimination and complained TO the
railroads. The Fargo club took kimi-
lar steps. The railroad sent ofncials
to Fargo. when Q joint hearing was
held.
Secretary ]. w. Graves and Trafiic
Commissioner J. R. Brsmner Of the
local club and Chairman W. 81. Brown
of the trafiic committee presented the
Grand Forks side Of the case.
The railroads refused to make the
reduction asked for. They promised,
| however. to materially lower the rates,
providing that the Grand Forks and
Fargo clubs would not bring action
against them before the North Dako-
ia railroad commission. The clubs
refused to do away with their rights
by making such an agreement, and
consequently tho railroad officials kept
to the high schedule.
| The Fargo Commercial club. then,
asked the Grand Forks club to Join
\ them in an action against the rail-
roads. The local club refused to do
this declaring that the time was not
ripe for sllch steps.
| A joint meeting of the Trafiic and
Retail Trades committees was held
short time ago, when local dealers
were urged to have all their freight
shipped to East Grand Forks until
u settlement had been reached.
FIXING PLANKS