Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1918-01-11
Discrimination Allege d
Against the Boise and
Idaho Shippers by the
Oregon Short Line.
Colonel Priest Said to Have
Overlooked the Case of
Dried and Evaporated
Fruits in His Defense of
the Existing Rates.
BY s. W. ORMSBY.

AAAC Soci Ia HTieSt IN MS CRITICISMS
Of Byron z. Hyatt's article last Sun
day. I. too, was much interested in
reading 1t, but was both interested
and amused by Mr.. Priests article.
Mr.. Priest says he is inclined to
mink Mr.. Hyatt has a good deal to
learn about freight rates" True; and
could the people who pay the freight
make q study Of these rates, 1t is ex-
tremsly doubtful II they would be much
wiser after an exhaustive study Of tar
MS and supplements.
Mr.. Priest says again that IF any
enc II to blame, then 1t is the inter-
STATE commerce commission, and not
Ehs railroad"
Anyone who has attended a meeting
Of this body knows that those repre-
senting the railroad know how to put
their clients before the commission in
the most favorable manner and after
listening to them, one wonders how a
case Is ever lost by them.
RATES ON DRIED FRUIT.
Mr.. Priest ignores the question of
rates on dried or evaporated fruits
The rate from Portland to eastern
points is 81 hundred and $1.10 from
Idaho, and the only way for the manu-.
facturer here to beat this difference is
to absorb 1t by quoting a lower price,
and this would mean loss to the
Idaho shipper that would amount to
$50 per car.
How long Mr.. Priest, could the Ida =
no man keep this up? There has been
during the past year. considerable agi-
tation for new Industries in Idaho, and
In nearly every case this question of
discriminatory rates has blocked them,
and while at present, money could be
made, no man or body of men would
be short sighted enough to 60 into any
business based only on present condi-
tions, hence freight rates are what
controls Industries established, or to
be established.
SEES A DIFFERENCE.
Mr.. Priest says in regard to rates on
condensed milk, they are not going
into the present undertaking without
a thorough understanding as to their
rates"
thorough understanding and a
filed tariff rate are so far apart they
arc not to be considered They have
never been introduced to each other
and may never be. Is this another
paper rate?
The railroad says produce sufficient
volume of business and we may make
rate. No discrimination? How
about this? The railroad refuses the
small manufacturer in Idaho an equit-
able rate that will allow him to COM
pete with Oregon, we will say, but
anyone can establish a business there
no matter how small and get the same
rate as the larger manufacturer does,
and all because California rates to the
east compelled the railroads to give a
rate to future industry and In order
to encourage the evaporated fruit
business.
CASE OF DETERMINATIONS.
To safeguard Qyegon's entry into
Idaho, a rate of II cents is made from
Oregon points into Idaho and from
Roseburg, Ore. and points south, a
rate of 81 is made This creates bust
ness for the Oregon Short Line and
helps the Oregon manufacturer In
Idaho when we request rate that will
allow US to compel, with Oregon, we
are told that we may have a rate
granted us to compete with Oregon, We
are told that we may have a rate
granted us when we produce a vol
ume of business OF sufficient import
Ance to be of interest to the railroad
The small prospective manufa cturer is
strangled in his efforts to do some
thing that will benefit Idaho and by
railroad rates.
Mr.. CRAFTS article in the Capital
News Wednesday asks some very
pertinent questions. and should Mr.
Priest reply. he will furnish some very
interesting information, but it Is
doubtful IL 1t will be enlightening.
When the inequality and unjustness
of the long and short haul Is removed,
and all given an equal chance in the
market. then Idaho will show what she
can produce and become a strong fac
tor in the nations good by building
many manufacturing plants, and come
info the recognition she deserves