Arizona republican., 1918-01-31
Phoenix Rate to be Just
 as Low as That to All
 Southern California a Points After March b
Republican A. p. Leased Wirel

Republican A. P. Leased Wire1
 WASHINGTON, Jan. .3o.-lncreases of about fifteen per cent in railroad commodity rates from the east and in- terior points, were authorized by the interstate commerce commission today in finally deciding the famous inter mountain rate case pending in various forms for years. This action will make the through rates to the coast equal to higher rates maintained to Spokane, Denver, Salt Lake City, Reno and other intermediate cities, and remove the rate discrimination against which commer- cial interests of these cities have long protested. The order becomes effective March IS.
 The decision disposes of one of the most generally discussed rate cases before the commission in recent years. Formerly lower rates were maintained to the Pacific coast than to intermed- fate points because of the competition of low freight charges by water car riers from Atlantic ports through the Panama canal to the Pacific seaboard. 1 This scheme was disarranged several years ago by the temporary blocking of | the canal and by the withdrawal of vessels from coaStWise trade soon after l the war opened in 1914. Since then the | question has been under active consid- eration by the commission. The new rates are expected to remain in effect at least until the resumption of peace, or until water competition is renewed
 The increases apply to materials car ried in large quantities under commod- ity rates such as iron and steel. both in carloads and in less than carloads, but not to miscellaneous freight carried under class rates. Practically all man. ufacturing districts of the country are affected.
 Atchison Dissents in Part
 Commissioner Aitchison dissented in part from the majority decision, hold ing that although it was necessary to remove the date discrimination against inter-mountain cities, the result might have been obtained by reducing the in , termediate charges.
 The commission refused the rail- , roads application to carry all con- , modity shipments of less than a car- load at class rates, which would effect considerable increase. This was pro- ) posed by the roads as the easiest meth od Of complying with the commissions S order of last June 30 requiring that these rates to intermediate points
 should bear the same relation to ter minals, as class rates to intermediate 5 points bear to the terminal rates. The commission found however. that busi- ness would be unduly disturbed by the change.
 The Southern Pacific railroad com. U pleted the question by proposing to es. ,, taplish low rates on A specified com. 7 , modltles by water from New York tc
 Gaiveston and by rail to the Pacifi, s coast. This. the commission refused tt 1 permit, unless all commodities were in,
 ciuded Ill the preferential list. Pre-
 vlously, however, the railroad haf
 stated that lack of tonnage prevented
 the application of these rates to al
 shipments.
 Similar Plan Rejected
 A similar proposal of other roads {,
 maintain low rates to the coast by wa,
 or water shipment from Norfolk f,
 Galveston, in order to compete with th,
 ooulhern Paclflcs proposed practice . also was rejected
 A The commission allowed an increas | or about 40 per cent on through rate
 10 the Pacific ports for export, applyin,
 10 Iron and steel articles, machinery
 railway equipment and other materials
 Ihe rates apply principally from Chi ,l caSo and points west of there. A small ,e CT increase on imported shipments wa h permitted. A number of rates involve ,- Tn the decision today are under investi
 eNS SoiniHiSSion, Wnlcn re e- served the right to order specifi r changes in the future.
 ,h The decision of the commission wa ct forecast in a degree by its previous ac le tlon Tn giving the roads permission i IS He the proposed higher rate tariffs. I of decision last June the rule was es ,y abolished that the difference in rate d, between coast and inter-mountain eft e. les should be removed, but left ope
 the question of whether the throug
 rates should be raised or the inter he
 in Continued on Page Two)