Gilpin observer., 1913-03-20
NOTABLE VICTORY
FOR THE PEOPLE
Upsetting Of Western CIassifica-
ton 81 Means Much.
RAILROADS LOSE BIG CASE
Chairman Thorns Of Iowa commIs-
sion Tells How the shippers and
Consumers Of the West Rens-
n At by the Decision.

Des Moines. Ia, March 13.-The peo-
pie of the United States have had
Iowa to thank for 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-
sifcation No. 81. and on March 81 the
several hundred changes made to con-
form to the commissions order will
20 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 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
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
q 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
and small, interested In trafic be-
tween the Mississippi river and the Pa
ciAc coast, have organized what they
tee Of about eighty-ive 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 35.000.000 people have to
pay traffic between about 10000
towns. located between the Mississip-
pii 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 of
American railroads an entire classifi-
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 Of
its former work. In accordance with
the decision which was rendered by
the interstate commerce c6Anmission
recently. known as the decision in the
case Of Western classification No. 81.
The railroads have Just submitted to
the commission a list of several hun.
dred changes In this classification to
conform to the commissions order and
these will go into effect March 81.
The opinion in this case. next to the
one rendered in the express case. is
perhaps the longest ever written by
the interstate commerce commission.
The case is Of national Importance
Many Of its features are unique. and
Of profound concern to the consumers
Of the country.
Sixteen States United.
Many shippers and shippers or
ganizations were parties to this case.
But perhaps the most interesting fea-
ture was the fact that on behalf Of
the consumers the railroad commits.
sions Of sixteen great states appear
cd. These states were Illinois, Wis
consin. Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri.
Arkansas. Louisiana, Texas. Okla,
homa, Nebraska. South Dakota, North
Dakota. Colorado. Nevada, Washing.
ton and Oregon. On the one hand we
had the representatives OF some nine
hundred railroads. and opposed to
them the representatives Of sixteen
state governments. with the interstate
commerce commission as the deciding
tribunal. The hearing in the case
lasted about a year.
Western Classification No. 81 In