Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-16
DECISIONS IN SEVERAL STATE
CAGES IN LINE WITH RULING
IN MINNESOTA CASE.
LAWS IN THREE STATES
GIVEN STAMP OF APPROVAL
Several Lines In Missouri Exempted
From General AppIloatoin on
Grounds That Established Tariffs
Would Be confiseatery = Lower
Courts Reversed in Missouri.

court today upheld as valid the rates
imposed by the Oregon railroad COM
mission out Of Portland. thus affirm
Ing the federal court Of that state.
The Arkansas maximum freight rats
law and the 2-cent passenger fare law
were today upheld as valid by the su-
preme court. The West Virginia 2-cent
law was also upheld as valid.
Justice Hughes said the question OF
interference with interstate commerce
was decidedly in favor Of the state. for
the reasons assigned in the Minnesota
rate decisions. No question Of con-
fiscation was presented In the West
Virginia cases.
Missouri Roads Excepted.
In the Missouri rate cases today the
supreme court held the rates confis-
catory on the ST. Louis 6 Hannibal
Kansas City, Clinton & Springfield,
and Chicago Great Western railroads
The decision holding the rates con-
flscatory as to the Chicago Great
Western was made to apply by virtue
of stipulation between the state and
the railroads to the Quincy, Omaha &
Kansas City railroad and the st. JOS
eph 4 Grand Island.
The decision was based on the 2-cent
passenger law and the maximum
freight law. =.
The court held the rates valid ~ to
tho st. Louis Southwestern, the Mis-
souri, Pacific. the st. Louis. Iron Noun
tain q Southern. the Wabash. the Chi-
caRo, milwaukee & st. Paul and the
Chicago q Alton.
Dassd on Minnesota Case.
Justice Hughes, who announced the
decision. held that the points sought
to be made by tho railroads 10 the eff
feet that the Missouri car rates wers
In Interference with interstate COM
merce. must be decided againat-AEs
for the same reason given by the
court in the Minnesota rate cases.
The court also sustained the rates Of
the Missouri law a. to the Chicago.
Burlington & Quincy. the Atchfson. Toe
,peka 4 santa Fe, tho Kansas City
Southern, the Missouri, Kansas 4
Texas. ana the Chicago, Rock Island q
Pacific. (including tho st. Louis. KAN
sas City & colorado) and the st. Louis
q San Francisco.
In each Of these cases the DEGREES OF
the lower court in favor Of the railroads
were reversed.
Omaha Loses Suits.
The supreme court today annulled as
unconstitutional the Omaha, Neb., ordt :
nance Of 1908 directing the. city cleo
trician to disconnect wires OF the
Omaha Electric Light and Power Com
pany. The court, thru Justice Vande-
venter, held the original franchise OF
the company had not expired and by a
grant in perpetuity was not limited to
twenty years.
The court also held that the city had
treated the franchise as including q
right to do an electric. heat and power
business. and the effect Of this was to
estop the city from denying the COM
pany had such power.
Kansas Statutes Annullsd.
Because of a provision in the law
fixing $500 damages for each
violation, the supreme court today an
nulled as unconstitutional the Kansas
statute Of 1905 which nxed the MAXI
mum rates for the transportation ofecil
by rail. The Objectionable clause was
held to prevent railroads from testing
whether the rates were conf1scatory
Not Responsible For Floods.
The supreme court today DECIDED
that the federal government was not
responsible for the flooding
of more than 100 plantations on the,
river as result OF the
levee construction. Efforts were made
to hold the government responsible for
the land flooded. in all about 100000
acres.
Applications for rehearings Of the
cut rate patent decision and the Den
yer water case were denied today by
the supreme court.
No pseision on Intsrmeuntain Case.
At 2:15 o'clock the supreme court
adjourned until next October without
q decision In the inter-
mountain rate cases or passing on an
for q review Of the Comp
ers-Mitcheu- Morrison contempt OF
court case