Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-06-08
WHAT Ell PASO THINKS
OF DEMING RATE COMPLAINT
by l.. u. Claypool
I'm "f,reafar III paso''

ri f'nsos freight rates are not TO be
disturbed. This was made certain when
the hearing at Deming in the complaint
brought by the New Mexico corpora
ton commission ON behalf of the Dem
Ing Jobbers was brought to close.
The Demlag jobbers moreover, who
had complained that III Paso's rates
disseminated against them, won Il
point when the railroads, through w.
G. Barnes. freight traffic manager of
the III Paso and Southwestern volun-
tarily offered TO readjust any rates ap-
plying 10 Deming from points In other
states 80 that they would be IN line
with the rates from such points to Al
buquerque.
This adjustment Is to be made upon
the basis fixed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission In its decision in
the New Mexico rate case IN 1918. This
adjustment, however will not In any
way work Ia The disadvantage of III
Paso. In fact, Mr.. Barnes admitted that
III Paso had rates that needed adjust
ment
Reductions 10 Deming
IL appeared that rates to Deming
on some commodities were not In line
with the lmsls recommended In the
1919 decisions, so that the new rates
VIII in some cases result In reductions
to Deming The carriers are to work
out the new Deming rates In confer
ence with the Deming jobbers. the State
Corporation Commission, and the III
Paso Chamber of Commerce and, II all
parties to the conference reach an
agreement, the agreement reached will
he submitted to the Interstate Com
merce Commission In the form Of
accommodation The conference is To
he held within 30 DAYS.
The matter of minimum weights also
is TO he adjusted so ns to eliminate dis
criminati0n against III Paso as well as
Dcming. All commodity rates not af-
fected by the 1915 decision will be
taken up later. excepting rates on veg
etables shipped from the Pacific coast
to eastern points II an agreement is
not reached the federal commission will
make some decision.
There was considerable discussion Of
vegetable rates from the coast at the
hearing. l.. l.. Gaskill, prominent
farmer near here and secretary of the
Mimbres Valley Farmers Association,
testified that the rates on beans
shipped from the Pacific coast to east
ern points was the same as the rate on
beans shipped from Deming. although
the latter Is 800 miles nearer the points
Of destination.
Affected by Water Rates
Elmer Westlake, attorney Of the
Southern Pacific, explained for Mr..
Gaskills benefit that the rate on beans
from California was affected by a wa
ter rate due 10 shipning from the coast
through the Panama Cnhnl. This rate,
Mr. Westlake said. Is blnnketed over
the entire western region So that Dem
ing gets no benefit Of IT, Were it not
for the water rate, he said. Deming
would pay much higher rate than
she now pays.
Mr.. GaSkill said his clients in the
MimbreS valley would raise 800 acres
Of cotton this wear. The cotton rate Is
another complained Of The Southern
Pacific attorney said he would have 10
officials Of his company before
he could offer Deming any encourage
ment with regard To bean and cotton
rates.
Points 10 III PasO's Growth
4. u. Tadlock. manager Of the FL
PasO Chamber of Commerce traffic
bureau. took the stand and told Of the .
Of business done by III Paso
and Of her rapid growth as facts in
fluencing her rates. He called the at
tentiOn of H. u. Bowman. assistant at
forney general Of New Mexico, to the
fact that Dcming had an opportunity
lt the time her rates were fixel to ap-
pear before the Interstate Commerce
Commission and protest, but neglected
10 do so.
Mr.. Bowman took the stand and re-
ported u conversation hc had with Max
rhelan, director Of public service for
he Interstate Commerce Commission.
asst October, few days before the
Deming rates were readjusted. lie
aid Mr.. Thelan promised relief. hut re-
used to moleSt the FL PaSO rates. To
his New Mexico would not agree.
James A. Dick and G. S. Nasits.
Wholesale grocers of FL Paso, were 9TH
r witnesses. Both declared rates had
lot hurt them. Mr.. Dick said business
mt Of his Deming branch had increased
20 per cent since the October, 1919. re-
djustment
Both Mr.. Tadlock and Il. c. Full
right. attorney for the FL Paso Cham ,
er Of Commerce, expressed themselves d
IS well pleased with the result Of the |
Iearing. Everybody else was pleased. '
90. so much so that vote of thanks I
vas given TO w. G. Mattingly, Inter
tate Commerce Commission examiner.
or the satisfactory way In which he {
andled the case. d