The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-06-10

would soon exercise the power, found
by the court to rest with IL 10 rcgu-
late such state rates as affect indi-
rcctly Interstate commerce. were not
inclined to come forth ut first BLUSH
With a plan to reverse the policy oe
the federal government through the
last one hundred years OF leaving such
regulation In the hands Of the states
Power OF Ststos Is Upheld.
Washington. -. G.. June 10 The
power oi tie states to fix reasonable
Interstate rates on interstate railroads
until such time as Congress shall
choose To regulate these rates was up
held late Yesterday by the supreme
court of tho United States i'm the Min
nesota freight and passenger rate
cases.
At the same time the court laid
down iar-rcaching principles govern
ing the valuation Of railroad property
for rate making purposes, and, ac-
Cording 10 these. held that the state
uf Minnesota would coniiscatc the
| property of the Minneapolis ~ st.
|
MUM freight and cent passenger fare
| law. II cnjoned tho state from en-
! forcing these laws as To this road for
| the present.
In tho cases of the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern. however. the
court held that these roads had failed
20 show that the rates were "unreas-
onablc" or "contiscatory." aud cons"-
uuentlv reversed the United States
district court for Minnesota. which
| had enjoined the enforcement as both
coufiscaturv aud Il burden on inter
| state commerce.
The decision, regarded as one oi the
most important ever announced bN
the court. has been under Considera
tion for fourteen months. Railroad
commissions from eight states ana th'
| governors of all the states filed briefs
in support of the state in the cases
recognizing that the principles IN
volved affected them all.
Comment by McReynolds.
Summarizing the decision of the su-
Iprcmc court Of the United states W
the Minnesota rate case. Attorney
General McReynolds said
"The court holds that Congress, II
the interstate commerce act has mo-
deprived the states of the right o' 1ix'
iny maximum interstate rules. They
still have the power In contcst'ng
rate fixed by the state on the srouhe
,hot the rate Is coniisCatory, the DE
cision saws that the burden Of proc
or counscation falls upon the rairoa'
The court found that the Minncap"'h
4 ST Louis railroad had cstapiishet
tra, lin. rates affecting them were con
oscotorv. but that the Northern IA
ci6c ana Great Northern had tai'e'
in such proof.
Minnesota Officials Elated,
81. Paul. MINI, June lo.-Stete ON
ci,Is and others connected WIN th
, long drawn out Minnesota cases ar'
.,a,od over the decision of the Unit
od sta,es supreme court ana wer'
7 ,,animois In declaring IT a great VIC
tory for the state
A. 4, result of the decision severs
railroads operating in Mineapoos WI
,,,, into the state treasury approx
n,a,o,v $4,000. 900 In the shape ot over
charges.
: when informed Of the supre'h
+ cour,'s decision, Governor Eoer'a'
: said: ,,,
r "I, is the best bit of news ! nav
T board IN a long time. II estapi'sne
/ r,hat we have always contended; TN
- OF the state to regulate withil
r lis confines. II is great VICTORY a.'
Minnesota has the honor OF beihg IN
, leader in making this victory possi
'ble."