The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-01
WETTRICK SAYS
POINDEXTER IS
OFF ON RATES

prepared for The Star by 5. J.
We,,rlck. attorney for the
transportation bureau OF the
Chamber Of Commerce. In u
he points out why he considers
Senator Poindester's support Of
tho Spokane viewpoint IN the
"ionq and short haul" contro-
versy, is not consistent with
the hes, Interests Of the whole
tta,e.-Ednor' Note.
~ S. J. WETTRick
The Interstate Commerce act
row prohibits q carrier from max
lnE lower rates for "a long haul
than for a short haul bat provides
that. upon application 70 the inter
state commerce commission. n car
rl.r may be authorized 20 depart
from this rule. Senator Polndcx
ter nov proposes TO secure the On.
actmcnt Of BIN by congress
which wOHld prohibit carrier
from makifg lower rates for a
Z long haul than FOR a short haul IN
der all circumstances
Water transportation being less
expensive than rail transportation.
II ia necessary for the rail carriers
T 10 make lower rates To compete
with the water carriers than would
otherwise he deemed Ia be reason.
able. In recognition Of this fact.
I tho interstate commerce commits
zion has always permitted the rail
carriers TO make lO~or rates TO Sc
attic and 10 tho other Pacific Coast
cities than 10 Spokane and other
intermediate points.
Meets Natural Conditions
This Is simply permitting the
carriers to meet The natural condi.
tons which exist. and. so long as
Z the rates to tho Coast are not I'M
remuncrativo and the rates to tn
T tsrmediate points are reasonable.
20 prejudice or discrimination re
suits therefrom.
Not only this. but Il IL 10 the In
ierest OF the interior cities that the
carriers ahould be permitted TO
make rates TO the Coast which viii
enable them 90 compete. because
whatever they can make ON this
traffic over and above tho out-of
pocket cost helps To keep up the
means 81 transportation upon
which the interior cities are solely
I dependent
II the railroads are not permit
ted To make competitive rates TO
I tho terminals while the Coast
cities could siill get their freight
at the lower rates which water
transportation affords. tho latter
would lose the benefits OF an addi-
tlonal and competitive service.
Law Must Be Flexible
Under the law. as II stands at the
greson; time. the question OF
whether carrier shall be permit
/ ted 20 depart from the long and
short haul clause Is left 10 the dis
erection OF the interstate commerce
commission and can only be done
I IL. upon application by the carriers
land Investigation by the commits.
sion. Il Is found that the conditions
exist which make II necessary.
A situation OF this kind should
not be governed by an absolute
law which prohibits such an ADJ
justment OF rates as IS necessary
10 meet the natural conditions
which exist. 1t Is undoubtedly
much better that the determine
ton OF what the rate shall be I'M
der the varying conditions OF wa
ter competition should be left TO
the judgment and discretion OF an
administrative or judicial tribunal.
Spokane Has Benefited
Spokane itself has benefited
from the law as It stands at the
present. time. because the water
rate to the Coast plus the rail rate
TO Spokane has forced material re-
auctions In the all-rall rates from
the East.
1t seems reasonable. therefore, TO
say that Senator PoindeXter's &c.
ton Is not for the best interests of
this country. and particularly not
for the Pacific Coast states. as the
law which he proposes would un-
doubtedly seriously retard their