The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-05-02
JUDGE DECIDES
On LOWER RATE
U. S. JurIst Holds That Interstate
Commerce Commissions Giving
keokuk Better Illinois
Tariff, Stands.
ROADS WILL APPEAL
Thirty Days is Given in Which to File
Notices With Supreme
Court to Ask For
Suspension.
WILL APPEAL

JdCkSOnNllle dHu oIHCA
Illinois points will get rate OF two
cents plus bridge toll instead OF pay
ing "a cents plus bridge toll as Is
now being done, if Judge Hooks de-
cision is sustained. The anti-discrim-
inatory order Of the interstate COM
merce commission was yesterday up
held in the United States district
court, and an order giving the rail-
roads thirty days in which to comply.
This is the St. Louis rate case In
which Keokuk interviewed, and In
which parity with East st. Louis, on
the part of st. Louis, and Hamilton on
the part of Keokuk, is sought.
The decision if sustained will make
no. cheaper rate to Chicago for per-
sons travelling to Burlington and
across. But to Illinois points reached
by crossing the bridge at keokuk on
trains. there will be a lowering OF
tariff.
Judge Hooks Decision.
The st. Louis Globe-Democrat says
Of the decision:
ST. Louis was placed on the same
passenger rate basis as Chicago
through an order of Judge Hook in
the United States district court yes
terday in which the antidiscrimina-
tory order of the interstate commerce
commission was upheld.
The order of the commerce commits
sion was that the interstate passen-
ger rates from st. Louis to Illinois
points shall not be greater per mile
than the Illinois interstate rates, but
that the interstate rates shall not ex-
coed "a cents per mile. A reason
able bridge toll only may be added to
the interstate rate.
The courts Interpretation Of the
commerce commissions order means
the saving of large sums each year.
But of most importance is the fact
that the position of the cour. in the
passenger rate case Is an indication
that the same view will be taken as
to discrimination in freight rates.
Equalization of freight rates between
st. Louis and Illinois points will mean
the saving Of millions of dollars an
nually to ST. Louis shippers. 1t also
will mean that the factories that are
now building in many of the smaller
Illinois towns near st. Louis Will
eventually turn toward the city.
Railroads Plan Appeal.
Thirty days were given the rail
roads to comply with the courts Or
der. Unless the supreme court Of the
United States, to which the railroads
have announced they wilr appeal, sets
aside the order of the lower court
there can be no postponement of the
equalized rate after the thirty days.
Opposition to the order OF the inter
state commerce commission was
made by the railroads on the ground
that they faced suit with the Illinois
officials, if the intrastate rates were
raised to the interstate rates.
AS a consequence Of the courts or
der the railroads face one of two situa-
tions. They must raise the passenger
rate solely within the state of Illinois
to conform with the rates from st.
Louis to Illinois points, or they must
lower the latter rates to conform
with the intrastate rates.
Railroads Ask Postponement.
In the argument before the cour.
the railroads maintained that they had
complied with the order Of the COM
mission when they fixed the Interstate
rate for ST. Louis at "a cents per
mile They also asked the court to
withhold the order of court until
October, when their appeal On the
Illinois 2-cent rate case will be ar
gued before the supreme court of the
United States. The latter action is
in the form of an injunction against
the public utilities commission Of