Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-09-21
From the Commission
Editor,
The Morning Journal.
Albuquerque, N. M.

Editor,
The Morning Journal.
Albuquerque. N. M.
Dear Sir:
We have read with considerable
interest the news story published
| in today's Journal, referring to
your remarks at the dinner given
In Albuquerque last night under
the auspices of the Cooperative
| Business Mems Association, with
respect to the existing freight rates
to New Mexico in general and AL
buquerque in particular.
So far az we are aware, there
is 10 actual discrimination in the
trans sentimental rate adjustments
at the present time, either between
Pacific Coast points and Albuquer-
que or between Albuquerque and
points east thereof, except in the
wool rates. However, applications
have recently been filed with the
Interstate Commerce Commission
for and on behalf OF carriers par
ticipating In trans-continentai
traffic seeking authority to depart
from the long-and short pro-
visions of the amended Interstate
Commerce Act on long list
OF other commodities, on account
Of alleged water competition via
the Panama Canal.
1t has been the contention of
this Commission ever since its Or
ganization in 1912 that the rates
between the Atlantic Seaboard and
Pacific Coast terminals should at
least be observed as maXima at
intermediate points, irrespective of
water competition, and we have
gone on record as favoring the en-
actment by Congress of an IRON
clad long-and- short haul rule, for
the protection of the people of
New Mexico.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission in its decision in the
TranscontinentaI Rate Case, (46 l.
G. c., 1867 dated June 80, 1917,
held that water competition was
a negligible factor at that time in
affecting the rates by rail between
Atlantic and Pacific ports, due to
conditions brought about by the
war, and not only denied relief
from the long-and- short-haul rule.
but expressed the view that GER
tain of the rates at least might be
graded to intermediate points. In
Intermediate Rate Association VS..
Director General, (61 I. c. c.. 2@6).
which was decided March 26, 1921,
the Commission held that COM
plants allegations with respect to
the propriety of the existing COM
modify rates from points Of origin
east of the Rocky Mountains 70
so-called intermountain territory
had not been sustained and dis
missed the complaint which sought
to have graded rates established
to the intermountain territory.
Speaking of the rates as a whole
the Commission said that there
did not appear to be any undue
prejudice to the intermOuntain ter
ritory, and they could not say that
the rates should be graded.
Furthermore. the Commission said
that conditions warranted the car
riers, in their discretion, in con-
tinuing the present blanket adjust
ment on many and perhaps most
of the commodities that move IN
considerable volume.
Under the circumstances, the
rates from Pacific Coast termin-
ais as we'll as in the opposite di-
rection from eastern defined ter
ritories are observed as maxima at
Albuquerque and other directly in
termediate points, with the eXcep-
ton, as previously stated, Of the
rates on wool.
Albuquerque is peculiarly locat-
ed from a making standpoint.
It is the state border line
of tn Trans Continental groups
of origin on east bound
traffic and on the western edge on
west bound traffic. Joint through
rates are published between AL
buquerque and points west there
of in what Is known as Pacific
Freight Tariff Bureau territory, in
Guiding Los Angeles and San Fran
cisco, and also between Albuquer-
qua on the one hand and Chicago,
st. Louis, Kansas City and related
points on the other. Generally
speaking rates from points east of
the Illinois-Indiana State line to
Albuquerque are made by combi-
nation over Chicago or Mississippi
River crossings, whichever results
in the lowest through rate, but in
the event that the joint through
rates to Deming are lower than
combinations, the Deming rates
may be used under the interme-
date application of the tariff.
The rates from Chicago, st.
Louis, Kansas City and points
grouped Herewith to albuquerque,
and vice versa, were readjusted in
1915 as the result Of formal COM
plant filed by this Commission,
and rates are now in effect as a
result OF the decision in this case,
which do not exceed the rates to