Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-05-19
STATUS Of THE RENO BACK HAUL
EXPLA|NEDBY NEvADACOMM|SS|ON

the sixth annual report of the
STATE Railroad commission and the
third annual report of the Public
seyice commission has been issued
covering all rulings up to March 20,
,s14 The report states that at the
close of 1913 there we're three cases
pending in the United States district
conrt for Nevada in which cases the
commissioners were party defend
ant TWO OF these we're suits brought
by the Southern Pacific and the Tono-
nah 4 Goldiield railroad to restrain
certain orders made by the commits
sion reducing freight rates on the
lines OF the two companies in the
state of Nevada The cases men
toned had been pending long time
in the federal court and the orders
of the commission had been enjoined.
lhs was due TO the fact that similar
eases were under adyisement in the
United States supreme court in what
are known as the Minnesota rate
cases. When these cases We're set
tied in 1918 the supreme court re.
lected the long-established methods
and principles of apportionment and
calculation adopted by the railroads
in those cases. AS result the Ne
yada companies that were contesting
the orders of the commission were
left no ground to stand on. In pass
ing upon the Minnesota rate cases
the supreme court practically upheld
every command OF the Nevada board
and the Southern Pacific found itself
without any legal ground whereon to
resist the order II was then the
railroad had the case reopened and a
new schedule OF rates was promptly
put into effect. This showed say.
Ing to the shippers OF Nevada Of $50,
900 year.
During 1913 some 55 cases were
taken up by the commission. Many
have been decided and all that are of
consequence are well under way for
final decision. The report regrets
that the supreme court OF the United
States still withholds its decision in
what is known as the Reno case, in
yolying the back haul charge from
Sacramento. This case is by far the
most important that the commission
has had and a decision would affect
80 TO 50 per cent of all westbound
freights brought into Nevada. With
reference to this the commission ex-
plains the status as follows:
The cause of this long delay isi
Of course, not known to the public OF
to the members Of this commission
After having been fully argued and
presented to the supreme court, a
new Justice, Mr.. Justice Pitney, was
appointed to fill a vacancy IN thal
court little later the case was re
opened for further argument, the
general understanding being that Il
was done in order that Mr.. Justice
pitney might be fully advised witt
respect to the character of the case
But even this took place something
Ike year ago. and we are stil
without decision. The natural con
cmsion Is that the court must b.
very evenly divided and is holding
the case in allegiance for the purpos
of reconciling differences and render
ing a decision by the court with a
little division as possible But wha
concerns MS most Is that the pend
ency OF this case has completely tie
the hands of this commission wit
respect 10 the Reno ease We car
not. under present conditions, carr
thar ease farther In saying thl
there is no purpose TO convey th
idea that the matter Ia ended. II th
Interstate Commerce commission
sustained In It's tourth.scciion order
y viii. As has been heretofore state
give 10 our people measure Of feli'
ao substantial that It may be- aeeep
- ~ settlement Of the auesila
lef H"nie time To- cume should thei
"rd.rs b. held Invalid then the Res
ease pFupsF can b. again taken 4
sad pssessd 70 q anal decaian
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