Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1920-12-16
fractior nat was imported into
the CO during the fall months.
} COMMISSION
DENIES INCREASES
lNTRA,STATE RATES
Expect Railroads to Appeal
Case to Interstate Com
merce Commission N. D.
Board Twice Granted Rate
Increases.

OOdIO 1WlCc OId1lleu NdtC
Increases.
Bismarck, N. D. Dec 15.- (Spec-
ial) Railroads operating in North
Dakota are expcc:cj to ask the In
terstate Commerce Commission to
increase intrastate freight and pas
senger rates to par with inter-
state rates, following the action of
the state railroad commission here
late yesterday in denying the in
creases asked. It was announced
by B. F. Candrett assistant gener-
al solicitor of the Northern Pacific
at the start of the public hearing
here, that such action would lie TAX
en- if the increase was denied. Sim
liar applications from several states
where the increases asked FOR were
eenied are pending bsfore the In
terstate Commerce Commission.
The denial of the increases asked
for by the same board which twice
:.e:ore granted .hcn marks another
sep in the railroad rate tight which
l;as been carried m since last Aug
INST.
Efter a heari'.:s held last ArgEst
the commission granted the $5 per
cent increase on freight rates, 20
per cent increase on passenger rate
but denied the SO percent surcharge
asked for on Pullman rates.
The supreme court enjoined the
increases on the ground that the
board had not conducted it's meeting
at which the increase order was ad-
opted in accordance with the statut-
eS VI {z5s
The board, > which is composed OF
g. +. Duputs, Sam Aandahl and
Frank uMilhollan, again adopted the
increase, Milhollan dissenting.
The supreme court again halted
the action. A new hearing was or
dered. This hearing vas started
,ast week and was CO .clnded y:s-
tc rd,y afternoon.
Then the Inc board. which twice
voted for the increase denied it..
The next step is expected to be &C
ton by the railroads in which the
extent of the power of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission over
1intrastate rates in carrying out the
provisions of the. Esch-Cumm1ns
act will be tested.
AT the hearing yesterday after
noon William Lemke, Attorney Cen
eral-elect ,as interviewer, submitted
additional data. A reply was re-
ceived from the railroads on Lomke's
demand for information, but it was
claimed the railroads had evaded
the order to submit information re-
eardine the railroads holdings in
subsidiary coal and lumber COM
panies.
After the conclusion oe the hear
ing. the commissioner held an exc
cutiye session and at 500 p. nj. an
uounced they had denied the in-
crease.
The increase was denied on she
following motions:
Mr.. Dupuis: Mr.. Chairman, move
that the board Of railroad commits
sioners deny the carriers applica-
tion for 20 percent increase on the
passenger rates excess baggage ana
other classes that come under the
20 percent increase and also deny
the IS percent horizontal increase
In freight rates, also deny the sur
charge on Pullman rates land also
the milk and cream rates, based on
the following reason; That constru-
inr the legislative acts which the
carriers are at the present time OPP
Grating under to q greater or less
extent 1t is questionable as to the
the commissions judisd:ction over
said rates. ?s By 81
Mr. Milohllan: I will suggest as
an amendment that the. following pc
added: FOR the further reason that
the rates applied for are unjust q, ara =
unreasonable and would work an ir- II,
reparable damage upon the ship
pers ana producers of North D Dako- D lIt
to BY reason of the fact that II was; g
,co.nrclusively I, shown at the hearing: 2 g:
that the railroads are now earning orr l1ll;'
more than six percent on the invest g !.
ment. Z,
puputs epted \ The ; 's d amen dme 'l ent
annd y 5yots y u = assnl.