The Bozeman courier., 1921-12-14
FARM BUREAU And
The Freight RATE
(From the Northwestern Stockman
and Farmer.)

(From the Northwestern Stockman
and Farmer.)
The Farm Bureau has taken the
first trench. On October 20, the In
terstate Commerce Commission rem
dered decision in the grain case,
which was submitted on September
3, 1921. The commission authorizes
reduction of one-half Of the ad-
vance of last year, or 171z per cent
on wheat and hay, based upon the
rates in effect August "a, 1920, and
271s per cent on coarse grains Trans
lating these percentages into figures
applicable to present rates, it means
q reduction of Is per cent on pres
ent wheat rates and % per cent on
present corn rates. It is estimated
by the transportation department of
the American Farm Bureau Fedora
tion that this is a net saving to che
farmers of America of S4O,OOO,O 900
annually.
In the grain case the American
Farm Bureau Federation appeared as
an interviewer. The Farm Bureau
submitted more evidence than any
other organization, directed the cross
questioning and participated in the
oral argument. Appearances were
made by the American Farm Bureau
Federation, Iowa Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton, North Dakota Farm Bureau
Federation, Nebraska Farm Bureau
Federation, South Dakota Farm Bu-
reau Federation, Idaho Farm Bureau
Federation and Arizona Farm Bureau
Federation. The complainants were
the various state railroad commits
sions, led by Judge Clyde M. Reed
of Kansas.
The Farm Bureau continues to
press for action on it's petition sub
mitted to the Interstate Commerce
Commission on October 18, asking
for an immediate reduction of 10 to
20 per cent on all basic commodities
followed by further reductions until
"the increase of last year, ranging
from 25 to 40 per cent in the vari-
Gus territories, shall have been elm
mated"
President J.-R. Howard has just re-
turned from Washington, where he
discussed the Farm Bureau transpor-
tatiOn policy with the agricultural
bloc. The conference of American
Farm Bureau Federation executive
committeeman with railroad execu-
tives in New York was postponed at
the request of the railroad men.
Before the senate committee on In
terstate Commerce, General Counsel
Clifford Thorne is filing a statement
declaring that Section 15-A of the
Transportation Act, which guarantees
a return of 51s to 6 percent to the
railroads in unconstitutional Grounds
for this contention are that the clause
attempts to compel shippers on some
lines to pay excessive rates in order
to create a surplus to be turned over
tc weak lines. 1t is the contention
of the American Farm Bureau Feder-
alton that shippers in any part of the
country cannot be compelled to pay
excessive rates by act of congress.
Mr.. Thorne is filing with the senate
committee a Photographic copy of
letter by former Supreme Court JUS
tice Charles H. Hughes, now secre-
tGry of state, declaring that the
clause is unconstitutional. The letter
was addressed by Mr.. Hughes to AL
fred P. Thorn, general counsel for the
Association of Railway Executives, at
the time the Cummins-Esch bill was
before Congress. Mr.. Hughes letter
states:
81 am constrained to the conclu-
sion that the provision in Section 6,
of the pending bill (now Section 15-
Al rs to the payment of 'exces'
earrings, in its application to car
riers not operating under federal
franchise or contract permitting the
imposition of such condition, vio-
lates the federal constitution"
The Railroad Labor 3 I'D las is
sued stateroo- n .he Ma
% / : ta ised,
and that until til i aeegnlpiisheC
tlisr wi b. - f--ther orders for
waC> recg5t-ens. This seems effect
lively to remove the cause for a strike