Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-03-20
NOTABLE VICTORY
FOR THE PEOPLE
Upsetting of Western Classified
ton 81 Means Much.
RAILROADS LOSE BIG CASE
Chairman Thorne Of Iowa Commits
sIon Tells How the Shippers and
Consumers Of the West Bene-
fit by the Decision.

MT by tho Decision.
Des Moines, Ia. March 13.-The peo-
pie of the United States have had
Iowa to thank for a number OF ex-
cellsnt 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 No. 81. and on March 81 the
several hundred changes made to con-
form to the commissions order will
90 into effect. Shippers and consum-
ers alike will benefit by the revision.
Iowa Leads the Flight.
Iowa's commission was by no means
alone In the good work. but 1t took
the initiative In the case and assumed
the chief part OF the burden OF pre-
pairing and trying 1t. 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. Iowa's rate
expert.
Mr. Thorne today had this to say OF
the big case and its outcome:
One day during the summer OF 1911
] was seated in hotel parlor in MIL
waukee. In one end OF the room there
were sixteen men In their shirtsleeves.
talking and listening occasionally TO
a person standing in the center OF the
room: two or three minutes were al
lowed to the gentleman talking: he
took his seat and another person told
a short story; and 30 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
tween the Mississippi river and the Pa.
ciflc coast. have organized what they
call western classification commit.
tee OF about eighty-five members
These eighty-flve 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 100000 people have 20
pay trafic between about 10000
towns. located between the Mississip
pi river and the Pacific coast This
Is one OF the three important classifi
cation committees In America. the
other two being the official. covering
! the northeastern portion OF the Unit
ed 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
scribed has been making a revision o.
Its former work. in accordance with
! the decision which was rendered b,
.
recently, known as the decision in tn,
case OF Western classification No. 81
The railroads have just submitted L
the commission a list of several hun
dred changes in this classification te
conform to the commissions order .anC
, these will go into effect March 81
The opinion in this case. next to tn,
one rendered In the express case. 1.
perhaps the longest ever written b,
e the interstate commerce commission
The case is of national Importance
Many OF its features are unique. ans
OF profound concern to the consumer
a.. OF the country.
Sixteen States United.
Many shippers and shippers or
| CARNATIONS were parties to this case
But perhaps the most interesting fea
>. ture was the fact that on behalf @
, 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 W,
had the representatives OF some min,
hundred railroads, and opposed I,
, them the representatives of sixteel
r state governments. with the interstat,
I, commerce commission as the decidin,
Il tribunal. The hearing in the cas-
:, lasted about year.
IT Western Classification No. 81 in