Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-02-22
DECISION SOON
IN RATE CASES
Opinions of Supreme Court
on Important Matters
Eagerly Awaited

W AHfiiNb lDNt ~ - ffU,
One or more decisions OF unusual i'm
pOrtance are expected 10 be handed
down by the Supreme Court OF the
United States when the court recon
yenes Monday after a three weeks re-
cess Again the prediction Is being
made that the decisions In the Mime
sofa rate cases and the Intermonntain
rate cases are a. last forthcoming
Of the two cases most public Interest
s naturally attached 10 the so-called
Minnesota case The 'lntermOun-
tain" or spokane rate cases Involve
the constltutlOnality OF the long and
short haul amendment OF 1910 10
act 20 regulate commerce, while the
Minnesota case hinges upon the
broad question OF the power OF a
State 20 control the affairs OF com
pany doing an Interstate business
The Supreme Courts decision In this
case prom ises to define more clearly
the questionable dividing line be-
tween State and Federal rights. II
was a recognition Of the Importance
OF the case from the latter stand
point that caused IL 10 be- seriously
discussed al the memorable confer
cnce Of Governors held AZ Spring
Lake. y j several years ago
The Minnesota rate cases have been
under Amusement for q long time.
originated nearly seven years ago In
the action Of the Minnesota Railway
Commission la ordering the railways
In that state 10 make number OF
rate reductions. including many Of
the commodity rates, and reductions
amounting to 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 con
sideration OF the commission with
drawing the commodity rates II had
ordered. the railways agpsed TO the
class rates ordered. accepting them
rs equitable Notwithstanding this
agreement. action was later taken
against the agreed rates in the United
States circuit court AZ 81 Paul. the
plaintiffs being. not the railway com
pauirs. bat individual stockholders.
the railway companies. however. H.
nancing the litigation mad the railway
lawyers conducting H. The result
was decision by Judge Sanborn that
The class rates In Minnesota should
revert 10 what they were before the
20 per cent reductions were made.
The Minnesota Railway Commits
sion appealed from, the 'Sahborn de-
cision TO the Supreme Court of the
United States The decision OF the
highest tribunal In the Minnesota case
viii be- of the greatest importance.
both In its immediate bearing on the
fortunes of the railways operating in
that state and us effect on the wider
question of the right OF state legis-
laturo OF commission 10 control az
fairs Of a company doing an interstate
business The decision will apply not
only 10 the Minnesota case hut also
90 a number Of similar cases that have
arisen boo Kansas. Kentucky. West
Virginia Missouri ana other states
The railways predict with every APP
p'auuco of genuine confidence that
'ho principle of uou-interfcrcucc by
che siatos with rates. or other matters
Boa connection with the operation OF
railroads doing ana Interstate business
viii De- finally laid down boy the high
csi tribunal lu other words. they
expect thar the decisive victory won
hF the Great Northern. Northern Pa
oiiiC and Minneapolis and St Louis
when the legality OF the rate reduc-
lions ordered hy the State Railroad
and Warehouse Commission OF Min
nesoia was passed upon by the Judges
of the Circuit Court will be- upheld
Dos tho supreme Court OF the United
States