The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-06-11
COURT UPAOLDS
COMMERCE BODY
Commission Rate Making Power
Supersedes All Others.
DECISION BY HIGH TRIBUNAL
Ruling 10 Believed to Be Most Sweep
Ina Declaration In Favor OF Gov
eminent Authority Ever
Made by U. 6. Jurlsts.

Washington, June 9--llolding that
the rate making power OF the inter
state commerce commission taxes
precedence over the jurisdiction OF
state commissions in situations where
the reasonableness of interstate rates
Is called into question, the United
States Supreme court handed down
decision unfolding the efforts OF ship
pers of Shreveport, La, to prevent al
legged discrimination against them by
the Texas railroad commission In IA
vor of Houston and Dallas, Tex.
The decision is believed to be one
of the most sweeping declarations
in favor Of the dominant authority OF
the federal government that the Su-
preme court has yet made.
The interstate commerce commits
sion found that class and other rates
from Shreveport to Texas points were
! unreasonable and ordered rates to be
eQualized 30 that Shreveport would
not be Disseminated against in favor
of Dallas and Houston.
Many Ways Of Conforming to Order.
Justice Hughes said there were sew
eral ways OF conforming to the COM
MISSIONS order. Reviewing the OBJ
lection Of the railroads that the COM
mission could not reduce 1ntra-state
rates to conform with interstate rates,
Justice Hughes said the power OF con-
gress was adequate to meet all the
emergencies that arise out OF local
interference with national inter-
course.
Justice Hughes said that congress,
not the state, might prescribe the rule
when state and national interests
conflict.
Congress is entitled to keep open
the highways Of interstate commerce
In the interest Of fair treatment to all
persons said Justice Hughes.
He indicated that the government
must control rates in the interest OF
interstate commerce. Whether con-
gress reduces interstate rates to con-
form with interstate rates was not
material, the court said.
shunting case Is of vast Importance to
shippers, as it has been estimated
that II the railroads exacted similar
charges in every large city of the
country it would cost shippers be-
tween two hundred and fifty and three
hundred thousand dollars year.
The court upheld the interstate COM
merce commissions order forbidding
railroads to discriminate against Los
Angeles by charging for the delivery
of cars there.
F. P. Gregson, traffic expert of the
Associated Jobbers Of Los Angeles,
said that the decision Of the Supreme
court meant that the railroads would
have to refund to the shippers and
consignees of Los Angeles between
one and two million dollars already
collected illegally as switching
charges.
Other Decisions Given.
Other decisions We're.
Refused an application for review
Of the decision tining the Grand Rap
ids IL Indiana Railway company Tor
granting rebates to lumber companies.
Refused to set aside sales of Indian
lands on the White Earth, Minnesota,
reservation, holding that an Indian
with any white blood at all was a
mixed blood"
Upheld the constitutionality Of a
Virginia law requiring companies min
ing coal or manufacturing iron or
steel to pay employees at least month
ly in money, and making it unlawful
to issue script unless redeemable in
money at its face value.
The Florida East Coast railway was
permitted for the present to charge a
rate on Florida fruit and vegetables
based upon the large expenditure OF
extending the road over sea to Key