The Cordova daily times., 1917-03-05
HEARINGS BEFORE
 IN TERST ATE COMMISSION

the case of the Samson Hardware Co and James Wickersham against vari ous transportation companies doins business in Alaskan waters, both or the coast and in the interior, and rail roads in Alaska, has recently beer received by the Daily Times. The hearing in this case began before the Interstate Commerce Commission early in the month of November, last year, at Cordova, and sittings were held at Juneau, Seattle and Washing. ton.
 None of the evidence in these hear. ings has been published locally, ex. cepting in the hearing held here, as the telegraph tolls are to oprohibitive to cover matter of this kind. In an effort to give our subscribers a gen. eral idea of what has transpired in the hearings, The Times will print extracts from it that appear to be of interest to the public.
 The brief contains IF pages of printed matter, and is entirely too lengthy to be published in its en- tirety. Lack of space prevents the printing of the portions selected in one issue, so the articles will appear from day to day until the subject is covered.
 Judge Wickersham divides the ter ritory into two zones. The first Is the Coast Zone, and extends from Ket- chigan to Anchorage. He states "The traffic in this region is carried from Seattle by the defendant steamship lines, and thence over either the White Pass & Yukon railway, Ltd, or the Kennecott's Copper River & Northwestern Railway, or the govern ment railroad from Seward to Anchor age. There Is much interstate traffic to Alaska coast points, from Ketchi- kan to St. Michael at port to port rates, but which, being a through in terstate shipment, is entitled to in terstate protection to the point of des- tination.
 ''The second zone to be considered is what is known as the Alaska Yu- kon interior, or that region along the Yukon river and its tributaries, which is served generally via the White Pass & Yukon Railway, Ltd, and thence down the Yukon river to the region mentioned, in Alaska. Much of the freight coming into this region arrives at Seattle by the steamship compan- les, via the St. Michael route to low CT Yukon river points, but the greater part is carried by steamship to Skag- way and thence over the White Pass railroad and down the Yukon to in- terior Alaskan points," This last zone is called "The Interior Zone"
 The brief continues: Generally, the relief sought by the complainants Is to secure the establishment of through routes and just and reason able rates for the shipment of freight from points in the United States to points in Alaska; and from points in Alaska. through the provinces of Brit ish Columbia and the Yukon territory in Canada, to points in Alaska; and from points in the United States to rail points in Alaska and thence over the lines of the railroads to points on the road, or to other points in Alaska through Canada. Complainants also tracts made by and between the White Pass & Yukon Railway Co, Ltd, by it's subsidiary, the American-Yukor navigation Company, and its control ling twin, the Northern Commercial Company, on April g, 1914, whereby z grossly excessive price promised fol the worthless hulks and other pro perty of the Northern Navigation Go. the purchaser secured a monopoly O the carrying trade in the interior O the American territory, and for whicl monopoly 1t agreed to give the North ern Commercial Go, s12 per tol rebate on all freight carried into tn, interior zone until December 15 1920.
 Complainant also prays for thu control by the Interstate Commerc' Commission of ore rates on the Ken necott Copper Corporation railroad, b. the establishment of just, equal ant reasonable rates from points thereon to Cordova and to points in Alasks and to points in the United State: and just and reasonable through rate of said railroad for the shipment ( freight, whether inbound or outbound
 "1st. We want through. just an -rnutes and rates esta| lished.
 "2nd. We want an equality of rate with the Northern Commercial Cor pany, and all other shippers, to " kon-Alaska points, and relief from u SIP rebate now given that compar by the White Pass & Yukon Railwa Ltd. by the contracts of April
 1914.
 "3rd. We want an equality of rat with the Kennecott Copper Corpor ton over it's railway. and throug just and reasonable ore and comm dity rates thereon"