Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-03-19
NOTABLE VICTORY
FOR THE PEOPLE
Upsetting of Western Classical
ton 81 Means Much.
RAILROADS LOSE BIG CASE
Chairman Thorne of Iowa Commits
sion Tets How the Shippers and
consum.rs of the West eene-
fit by the Decision.

consun.rs Of the West 6ene-
fit by the Decision.
Des Moines. Ia, March 13.-The peo-
pie of the United States have had
Iowa t. thank for a number OF ex-
cellent things, and to the list must
be now added an achievement that
means a great deal to the shippers OF
the entire west from the Mississippi
to the Pacific. Especially are those
shippers under obligations to the Iowa
state board OF railroad commissioners
and its chairman Clifford Thorne.
This achievement is the suspension
and revision. by the interstate com
merce, commission, Of an entire freight
classification, known as Western clas-
sification NJ. 81, and on March 81 the
several hundred changes made to con-
form to the commissions order will
go into effect Shippers and cOnsum-
ers alike will benefit by the revision.
iowa Leads the Fight.
Iowa's commission was by no means
alone in the good work, but il took
the initiative in the case and assumed
the chief part of the burden of pre-
pairing and trying it. Sixteen western
state railroad commissions united in
the fight. and Mr. Thorne was the
chairman OF the committee represent
ing them He gives much credit to
benjamin L. jacobson. who had gen
eral charge Of gathering the evidence
and preparing the specific cases for
trial, and to A. D. Beals, lowas rate
expert.
Mr.. Thorne today had this to say OF
the big case and its outcome:
"One day during the simmer Of .911
was seated In a hotel parlor in Nil
waukee In one end of the room there
were sixteen men in their shlrtsleeves.
talking and listening occasionally 10
a person standing In the center OF the
room: two or three minutes were al
lowed TO the gentleman talking: he
took his seat aud another person told
short story and so on. during the
course Of the whole day.
Powerful Group Of Men.
This small group of men exercised
more power than any other similar
group. perhaps. In the United States.
Some nine hundred railroads, large
and small interested in traffic be
tween the Mississippi river and the Pa.
cffie coast have organized what they
call a western classification commit
tee of about eighty-five members
These eighty-five men have selected a
subcommittee OF sixteen men. This
subcommittee. which is dominated by
one or two individuals. determines the
freight ratings on over 1000 articles
on which $4,000 900 people have TO
pay traffic between about 10000
towns. located between the MISSISSIPPI
pi river and the Pacific coast This
is one OF the three important classic
cation committees In America. the
other two being the official, covering
the northeastern portion Of the Unit
cd States. and the Southern.
For the first time In the history oil
American railroads an entire classic
cation OF one of these three great
freight classification committees has
been suspended by the federal govern
ment And the committee | have de
seribed has been making a revision o.
its former work. In accordance witt
the decision which was rendered b,
the interstate commerce commission
recently, known as the decision In ths
case OF Western classification No 81
The railroads have just submitted e
the commission list of several hun
dred changes In this classification Il
conform to the commissions order. ant
these will so into effect March 81
The opinion in this case, next TO tn,
one rendered in the express case. Ii
perhaps the longest ever written b,
the Interstate commerce commission
The case is of national Importance
Many OF its features are unique ant
OF profound concern TO the consumer,
OF the country.
Sixteen States United.
Many shippers and shippers or
CARNATIONS were parties 20 this case
But perhaps the most interesting fea
ture was the fact that on behalf o
the consumers the railroad commits
sions of sixteen great states appear
ed These states were Illinois Wis
consin, Minnesota. Iowa. Missouri
Arkansas, Louisiana. Texas. Okla
homa. Nebraska, South Dakota Nortl
Dakota, Colorado, Nevada Washing
ton and oregon. On the one hand ",
had the representatives Of some min,
hundred railroads, and opposed Il
them the representatives of slxteel
state governments. with the interstate
commerce commission as the decidinI
tribunal The hearing in the cas-
lasted about year
Western classification No 81 il