The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-02-21
ORIGINATED SEVEN YEARS AGO
Finding Expected to Define More
Clearly State and FEEDER
al Rights
RAILROADS VERY CONFIDENT

Washington, ID. g., Feb. 2l.--One or
more decisions of unusual Importance
are expected TO be handed down by
the Supreme Court of the United
states when the court reconvenes
next Monday after three weeks re-
cess Again the prediction is being
made that the decisions i'm the Mime
sofa rate cases and the lntermountain
rate cases are at last forthcoming. OF
the two cases most public interest is
naturally attached to the so-called
Minnesota case. The "Intermountain"
on Spokane" rate cases involve the
constltutionality of the long and short
haul amendment of 1910 To the act 20
regulate commerce while the Minneso-
Ia case hinges upon the broad ques-
ton of the power of Il state to con-
tro the affairs of company doing
an interstate business. The Supreme
Courts decision in this case promises
to define more clearly the questionable
dividing line between state and fede-
raj rights 1t was a recognition of
the importance of the case from the
latter standpoint that caused II to be
seriously discussed at the memorable
conference of governors held at Spring
| Lake y. j.. several years ago.
History of the Cases.
The Minnesota rate cases have been
under advisement for "a long time.
/ They originated nearly seven years
ago in the action of the Minnesota
TgafltNaNs fgu In,
modify rates, and reductions amount
ing To- a little more than 20 per cent
on the average in the class rates.
An agreement afterwards reached
| by the commission and the railways,
| by which agreement. in consideration
of the commission withdrawing the
, commodity rates it had ordered, the
/ railways agreed To the class rates or
dcred accepting them as equitable.
Notwithstanding this agreement, ac-
! tion was later taken against the
! agreed rates in the United States cir
cult court at st. Paul. the plaintiffs
being. not the railway companies, but
individual stockholders, the railway
companies. however. financing the lit
| lSAllOH anu lIt railway ldNNtIS NOtl-
ducting IL. The result was a decision
| by Judge Sanborn that the class rates
IN Minnesota should revert 10 what
they were before the 20 per cent re-
ductions were made
OF Great Importance.
The Minnesota Railway commission
appealed from the Sanborn decision To
the Supreme Court of the United
states. The decision of the highest tri-
bunal in the Minnesota ease will he
of the greatest Importance, both in its
immediate bearing on the fortunes of
the railways operating in that state
and in it's effect on the wider question
Of the right of state legislature or
commission to control the affairs of "a
company doing an interstate business.
The decision Will apply not only 10
the Minnesota case, but also to num-
ber of other similar cases that have
arisen in Kansas. Kentucky, West
! Virginia, Missouri and other states.
| The railways predict with every ap-
pearance of genuine confidence that
the principle of non interference by
the states with rates, or other matters
i'm Connection with the operation OF
railroads doing an interstate business,
will be finally laid down by the high
est tribunal In other words, they ex-
pect that the decisive victory won by
the Great Northern, Northern Pacific
and Minneapolis and St Louis. when
the legality of the rate reductions or
dered by the STATE railroad and ware
house commission of Minnesota was
passed upon by the judges of the Cir
cult Court. will be upheld by the Su-
nreme Court of the United States.