Arizona republican., 1921-05-27
PHOENIX STARTS FIGHT LIN UNJUST
 R. R. RATE ORDER
Local Shippers In Housing Meeting Take Step To Combat Plan To Abolish (Ong And Short Haul Order


 Order
 ln meeting which attracted | s7cres of shippers. the traffic bureau ot the chamber of commerce resolved yesterday to take immediate and wig orous steps to combat the announced | .l' tcrnalnation of the trans -continen- tod railroads to apply for wholesale | s -ssisitrusss Of the interstate commerce commission concerning long and i ~tnrr haulS. wiGh the particular ob srcr ef enforcing a higher rate on | rhe states cf the inter mountain re- cson than Is aSscsscd Upon shipments i so thc Pacific coast
 Tee meeting was presided over by | r R Helm. chairman of the traffic | hurcsu- Alter a discussion of the ammounccmeur made by the railroads, | 2rhaiTraan Helm was empowered to ] arnosnf sll necessary committees and | aa initiate a campaign without the xHrhtcS. delay. The work of the farean IS to he pushed with all ex- 7.e~azt5ou. Chairman Helm said yester- day afternoon. and with the cooper atson of shipping centers from Ari- ro1sa zo rhc Canadian border il is eX- s.ec-ed that such pressure will be isroucht so bear that the unjust and ss..rsGninatory attitude of the rail -,oaaS viii be definitely and perma- r-satig changed
 To Ask Support of All other steps taken during the meet l inz were a decision to protest against rac establishment of the rates pro y,oss~s hy the railroads, to see that the rnl9est publicity is given to their plans and to the counter attack u nic his being launched, and to rally rnr active support of all the civic and a-.auamwrcial orSaniza tions of the state and uf all the other states af- ffcrcd. Chairman Helm and Roland acnmston- chief Of the traffic bureau. ss.sk the work in hand immediately zfcer the meeting and spent the en- -ire day outlining a plan of operations and in getting in telegraphic touch Hith other cities Of the intermoun- -asn ucEion who have taken up the FlShr against The railroads.
 The territory affected by the an ra1ucsmcuf of the railroads includes about one third of the continental area Cf tho United States and extends f-1rn Canada 10 Mexico and from the e~Stern slopes Of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains in California, Oregon and Washington. to the boun- 6ary lines of Montana, Wyoming and zhence soushward through Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.
 No suCh prejudicial rates are inn a-osed in any other sections of the United States it was said yesterday.
 No Other Section Hit
 For many years" Roland Johnston declared. rates to the inter noun tain territories were made by adding so the ranS-continental rates the To- cal from Pacific coast terminals. The inter mountain interests fought 0x4s
 unjust and unduly discrimina- icNv rates. and in March, 1918, the in- rerSt2te commerce commission par lraFsv removed this discrimina tion by granting to the intermediate points rates that were equal to the rates to Pacific coast terminals.
 The trans continental lines are HOW asking the interstate commerce s-dnrniSsion 10 establish rates on the old discriminatory basis. If this is permitted the effect will be disastrous to our commercial interests. will com pel The inter mountain counLry to pax higher freight rates than are inn posed on any other section of the United States, and will arrest the de- Nclcpment of our mines and our farming lands and place an undue burden on all our people,
 In answer to telegram sent to
 
 morning. Senator Henry F. Ashurst sent the following wire:
 Your telegram received. I have joined your request in urging that tn, matter be postponed until you hay, an opportunity to he heard
 Other Protests
 Another telegram was received from F. W. Pritchett. traffis manage of ;hc Intermediate Rate association
 
 The Intermediate Rate association has tcicsrsphed the commission formal protest. requesting a hearing ar Salt Lake City"
 \ longer telegram came from J. A Ford. secretary of the Spokan chamber Of commerce. The content follow
 "A Chicago dispatch in this morn iuS'S paper announcing that tn trans continental railroads will i'm suediately make application fo wholesale violations of the fourth sec ciou uecessitates immediate and unit ed action on the part of the whol inter mountain country. We hay wired Mccarthy. secretary of tn Intermediate Rate association, Sa Lake City. urging him to call an i'm mediate conference at Salt Lake w believe that this conference shoul include every town of any size in tf whole inter mountain country an should bc a mass meeting of such sig as Co make effective protest and l spreSentatiVe enough of the inter mountain territory to carry on ol fEht"
 Announcement Of the committee ta be chosen by him To carry on II work iu Phoenix will be made as SOC as the various perSOnnels have bee completed. Chairman Helm said ye' serdav.