The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-25
STATE RAILROAD RATES ARE
INCREASED UNDER AN ORDER
49,. ISSUED BY STATE COMMISSION
Freight Rates Within State to
Mount 35 Per Cent, Same as
National Increase
MILK RATE RAISE DENIED
Commission Holds Action Per-
mits Retention of Power to
Equalize Rates

The North Dakota railroad COM
mission today took the following ac-
ton on the railroads petition for in
creased rates on traffic originating
in and terminating in the state:
Allowed an increase Of IS per
cent in freight rates, us asked.
Allowed an Increase Of 20 per
cent on passenger fares, as ask.
cd.
Denied the petition for q sur.
charge OF 80 per cent on sleep.
ing car rates.
g. Withheld action on the petition
for IN increase in milk carrying
rates, pending hearing on express
company's petition.
The new rates can be effective in
five days, upon the filing of tariffs
by the railroads. 1t is probable that
they will be put into effect either
next Monday or September l.
New Rates Today
The interstate increases recently
granted railroads by the Interstate
Commerce commission, estimated to
yield more than billion dollars ad-
ditional revenue annually, are effec-
tive today. The railroads had asked
the state commission to make the
interstate increases effective at the
same time, 1t is hardly possible that
the new tariffs can be filed for
few days, it was said at the commits
sion offices.
The commission, in issuing it's or
der, took the position that the Esch-
Cummins act regarding freight rates
was mandatory, and that unless the
increases were granted by the state
commission they would be ordered into
effect by the national body. If this
came to pass, according to the com
missions viewpoint, the state COM
mission would surrender its author
ity over interstate rate entirely.
Rather than do this, according to
G, f. Dupuis, of the commission, the
increase was granted, and the COM
mission will Immediately set hearings
at which time shippers may present
OF discrimination and at
which the statements that Minnesota
intrastate rates are 40 per cent lower
than North Dakota's will he
considered. The railroads, ac-
cording to Mr.. Dupuis, will be re.
luired to show that the rates are not
discriminatory, or that North Dako-
ia is not Disseminated against. Under
the action today; the commission
holds, it retains power to equalize
rates t
1t is expected that somebody OF
shippers Immediately will file pro-
oeedings for a readjustment of intra-
state rates to put them on parity
with other northwest states.
Pullman Charge Denied
The petition for the so per cent
surcharge on Pullman rates was de
MED, it was stated. because the COM
mission felt that any increase in COM
pensation for the railroads through
such a method should come in All
Pullman company.
The commission has set Sept. 10
as the time for hearing the petition
Of the American Railway Express
company for an increase in express
rates. Most of the milk in the state
is carried by express, it was stated,
and the increase in both the railroads
milk rates and express company's Pc.
titiOn, will be considered at the same
time.
The North Dakota maximum freigh.
law of 1919, which never became eff
fective because the railroads were un-
der federal control, is held a dead
letter, being superseded by the Esch-
Cummins national transportation act.
Washington, Aug. 25--Increased
transportation charges on practically
all railroads and steamship lines of
the country will be effective at mid
night tonight. Nearly every railroad
has filed blanket schedules with the
Interstate Commerce commission
making effective the general increase
of approximately 80 1-3 per cent in
freight rates of 20 per cent in pass
enger fares and excess baggage and
milk charges and of so per cent in
charges for Pullman accommodation.
The increase in freight rates in the
northwest is 35 per cent.