Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-05-06
Decision of the Interstate
Commerce Commission Is
Awaited With Interest by
Growers in This State.
NO DISCRIMINATION
IN FAVOR OF IDAHO
Position Taken That There
Is No Ground for the Com
plant That the Rate from
Minnesota to Texas Is
Unreasonable.

The Idaho public utilities commits
sion has prepared and issued its brief
in the celebrated potato case pending
before the interstate commerce COM
mission entitled Northern Potato Traf-
fic association versus the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railwa.- company.
The Idaho commission is an intervenor.
The decision of the interstate commerce
commission is of vital Importance to
Idaho shippers and growers OF pota-
toes.
Briefly summarized the question in
volved is whether the Minnesota and
northern potato shippers or the Idaho
and western shippers shall have pre-
ference in the Texas and other south
ern state potato markets. The Idaho
commission holds there is no evidence
In the record that will warrant or JUS
tify the interstate commerce commits
sion In finding that the rate from Min
nesota to Texas is unreasonable, or
that any discrimination exists in favor
of Idaho against Minnesota and Wis
consin.
WHAT COMPLAINT ALLEGES.
Commissioner John w. Graham, at
torney for the Idaho commission, ap-
peared in the case on behalf of Idaho
and wrote the brief In it he sets forth
the allegations as made as follows:
'The complainant herein alleges that
the rates on potatoes from Minnesota
to Texas are unreasonable and dis
criminatory as compared with the rates
on potatoes from Idaho, Colorado and
California. The rates to all Texas
&c
100 pounds. The rates from all points
in Idaho on the main line Of the Ore
gon Short Line running from Ogden to
Butte, together with all points on the
main line running west as far as Mini
doka, are Ga cents to the Fort Worth
Dallas group and 6S cents to all other
Texas common points, while all points
on the branch lines, north and east of
Idaho Falls, Idaho, take higher rate
than Idaho Falls ranging as high as 70
cents to Fort Worth Dallas group and
IA cents to all of the Texas common
points; the rates on the Twin Falls
branch of the Oregon Short Line the
same beinL the branch running south
and west from Minidoka, take a CT cent
rate to the Fort Worth Dallas group
and II cents to all other Texas com
mon points; the Rogerson branch,
same being a branch south from Twin
Falls, takes 60 cents and 73 cents re-
spectively. The rates to all other points
on the main line of the Oregon Short
Line west of Minidoka, range from 81
cents and II cents to 50 cents and "a
cents respectively. The rates on the
Homedale branch, the same being n
branch line running out Of Nyssa, Ore.
10 points in Idaho, are 70 cents and rs
cents respectively; the rates on the
PaYette Valley branch, same being a
branch from Payette to Emmett. are
90 cents and 70 cents respectively The
rate from Stockton, Cal, to all Texas
points is 75 cents per 100 pounds. The
rate from Greeley, Colo, to Fort
Worth Dallas group is Sd cents; to all
other Texas common points is 6S cents
Complainant asks that said discrim-
ination be removed and that reason
able rates be established. Complain
ant further asks for reparation."
Concluding his argument Commits
sloner Graham says in the brief.
WHAT CONDITIONS ARE.
Now what are the market conditions
In the western states? Idaho exhibit
tWay No. II shows the population in
1916. consumption, average production.
surplus and deficit in each of the
states in the union. Idaho exhibit
(Way No. p shows the surplus and de-
1lct In each of the 10 western and
northwestern states. Nine of those
nave surplus aggregating on an aver |
age of about 2O,75S.361 bushels. while
the other three states of that group. |
VIZ; Arizona, New Mexico and Texas |