The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1916-02-25
Important Decision by Interstate
Commerce Commission.
PRESENT FREIGHT CHARGE IS UNFAIR
Artificial Barrier Against Columbia
River Removed = New Sched-
uIe Takes Effect May |.

Washington, d. C.-The interstate
commerce commission Saturday rem
dered a unanimous decision sustaining
the contention of Astoria that the
present freight rates from the Inlant
empire are discriminatory and unduly
prefer Puget Sound ports, and order
ing readjustment, placing the Astor.
ia rates on parity with those of Sc.
attic, Tacoma and Portland as to q
portion of the Inland empire, and with
Seattle and Tacoma as to other por-
tions.
The decision recognizes the principle
that the railroads have been building
up an artificial barrier against the Co
lumbia river, and indicates a recog-
milton of the principle that trade
should move along the line of least re-
sistance for which Portland has long
contended.
In summoning up its decision the
commission says:
IA careful examination of the rec
ords makes it clear that these North
Pacific coast ports have closer geo.
graphical and economic relations, one
to the other, than is at this time re-
fected in the tariffs of the defendant
carriers and that the latter, in their
present rate adjustment, unduly dis
criminate against Astoria and unduly
prefer Puget sound ports.
"We also conclude and find from the
record that there is such relationship
between Seattle, Tacoma, Astoria and
Portland as to require them to be con-
sidered, forming more or less of
natural rate group with respect to
much of the traffic in question.
"All facts adduced of record being
fully considered, we find, that between
Astoria and all points in this territory
on or east Of the line of the Northern
Pacific, extending from Pendleton,
Or, through Pasco and Kennewick,
Wash, to Spokane, and on or east of
the line of the Great Northern, ex-
tending from Spokane northward, the
rates should not exceed the rates at
the same time maintained between
Seattle, Tacoma and Portland and such
points; between Astoria and points on
the Oregon Washington Railroad &
Navigation company east Of Pendle-
ton, and points on the Oregon Short
Line, the rates should not exceed the
rates at the same time maintained be-
tween Seattle and Tacoma and such
points; as to points north of Kenne-
wick and west of the competitive terri
tory just described, Astoria rates may
exceed the Portland rates in the same
amount that Portland rates are higher
than Seattle and Tacoma rates, provid
ed the arbitraries over Portland shall
in no case exceed the local rate be-
tween Portland and Astoria; as to sta
tions of the Oregon Washington Rail
road & Navigation company and the
stations in the Spokane, Portland &
Seattle, west of Pendleton, and of the
Cascade mountains, the Astoria rates
may exceed Portland rates by the
same amount that the Seattle and Ia
coma rates are higher than the Port
and rates, the differentials over Port
and in no case to exceed the local
rate between Portland and Astoria"
Incidental to possible future pro-
,eedings, the commission says:
ut does not seem unduly venture
some to assume purpose on the part
If Portland, in case of a reduction in
The Astoria rates to the basis of rates
10 Puget sound ports, to call our at
.ention at a later date to its advan-
sage, over Astoria, of 100 miles in dis
,ance from Inland empire points, to
predicate upon that fact demand for
l corresponding reduction in its own
'ates.
"The order Of the commission re-
luires that the readjustment of the
'ates be made on or before May |, and
continue then in effect for period of
rot less than two years from the date
If taking effect"