Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-31
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMITS
SION GIVES DECISION ON IN
TERMOUNTAiN CASE.
TRAVEL By WAY OF CANAL
DOESN'T PROVE FACTOR
No Water Competition in Passenger
Service, Commission HoIds-Refusa
to Lower Mountain Rates Neeessi'
tates Increase in Price Of Thru
Tickets.

Washington, Jan. 31.--In deciding the
intermountain rate case the interstate
commerce commission authorized trans
continental railroads to increase rates
from eastern points to Pacific seaport
cities to the level Of the rates now pre-
vailing to !ntermountain points.
simultaneously the commission re-
fused to allow railroads to cancel eX-
listing commodity rates on shipments
Of less than a carload and apply higher
class rates.
Rail and water rates on shipments
by way Of Galveston were authorized
increased to the level Of all rail rates
between the east and west. Rates on
commodities for export may be raised,
according to the commissions decision.
The commission found that the for
mer reason for maintaining lower thru
rates to Pacific ports from eastern ter
ritory than to the mountain territory
were removed when ships formerly IN
service between the Atlantic and Pa
cihc seaboard by way OF the Panama
canal were removed for transatlantic
service.
Refuse to Lower Rates.
After analyzing the figures presented
by railroads the commission decided
that rates 10 the coast were abnormally
low considering service rendered and
transportation expenses. For that rea-
son the petition OF commercial interests
Of Pacific points that the intermoun-
tain rates be lowered were refused.
intermediate cities under the COM
missions decision will not bear a dis
elimination which it was alleged pre-
vailed under the old rate scheme by
which thru rates were forced down by
water competition.
The commission also denied the ap-
plication Of the Southern Pacific to
maintain low rates on certain commod-
thru Galveston unless the same basis
OF rates is applied to all commodities
adapted to water transportation.
In refusing the railroads request
for application Of class rates OF less
than carload shipments. the commits
sion specified that commodity rates on
these shipments might be increased
in the same proportion as is applied to
carload shipments.
Water Charges Higher.
Water and rail lines thru Galveston
were authorized to establish commodi-
ty rates as high as present all-rail
rates on barley, beans, canned goods.
asphalt, dried fruits and wine from
California ports to the Atlantic sea-
board.
Certain railroads, including those
maintaining water and rail routes thru
Norfolk had claimed special necessity
to maintain lower rates to the Pacific
coast than to intermediate points n
order to meet the competition Of the
and rail route through Galveston.
The commission declared. however
that it was unable to find these roads
We're at great disadvantage and denied
their application.
The same Increase was allowed for
through rates on imported commod
ties as was allowed for export ship
ments through Pacific ports.
Commissioner Aitchison dissenteI
from a number Of features OF the COM
missions ruling.
Adds to Revenue.
The commissions decision will mean
many thousand dollars added revenue
to the railroads and will remove long
standing source Of complaint by inter-
Tor western cities. Partial decisions OF
the western intermountain case have
been rendered by the commission sew
eral times previously but new elements
from time to time prevented the final
decision now given.
The increases resulting from the
commissions action range from to 80
per cent over existing rates to the
coast, and are generally estimated at
an average Of q little less than 10 per
cent. An indication that the new rate
scheme Will last only as long as water
competition is lacking Is seen in