Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-20
BOARD ASKS ROADS
T0EXTEND EXPORT
CUT To ALL POINTS
Protest Made Against z Cent
Reduction Because 1t Shuts
Out Eastern Montana.
Tribune's Helena Bureau)

IL HtdLC VIC hOb AtoSL 0ee
in the matter of the reduction of sew
en- cents per 100 on freight rates for
wheat for export at Seattle, Tacoma
and Astoria, Is renewed by the Mon
tana railroad commission in a tele-
gram sent Thursday to the Great
Northern, Northern Pacific and the
Milwaukee railways.
In this connection the board, tax
ing the view that considerable mis-
understanding and confusion has arls-
en- in the state in respect to these
rates and to the stand of the Montana
railroad commission upon the ques-
ton, the commission on Thursday is
sued the following statement:
Here are the facts concerning the
new reduced rates. They apply only
to that portion of Montanas wheat
crop and its products which may move
from western and central Montana TO
north Pacific coast ports for export
to the Orient, Hawaii and the Philip
pine islands. The reduction, seven
cents a 100 pounds, was proposed by
the Milwaukee line, and after author
ity therefor'was extended to that line
by the Interstate Commerce commits
sion, the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern naturally asked for and were
given the same reduction from their
corresponding territory. The rates
were thus initiated as a railroad pro-
position.
Tariff Held Unfair
Immediately upon the announce
ment of the new rates telegraphic
complaints were filed with the state
railroad commission from every sec
ton of the state by Montana millers al
leginx that the rates constituted an
unfair discrimination against them in
favor of the coast millers because
grain could be shipped which, on its
face was billed for export, but when,
once it got in coast elevators would
be used in domestic manufacture by
coast millers at seven cents under the
Montana miller on freight rates, at
9h cents under the Montana mlher
on the milling in transit privileges,
and at 25.65 cents per barrel or Iiour
under the Montana millers' product,
thereby shutting the Montana miller
out of his best western market IN the
states of Oregon and Washington, and,
in the end. injuring the Montana
wheat producer who sells to the Mon
tana miller.
1T was alleged in this connection
that but three per cent of Montana
wheat found its way to western ex.
port, because the Orient demanded
cheap. soft grains. The mlllers claim
ed part uesJEuCtlOu VI tuCi N ~
if the discrimination was permitted.
Under the law this board is re-
ouired. when complaints are filed by
any person or persons to proceed to
INVESTIGATE the complaint, or If II
relates to interstate commerce TO
make complaint to the interstate com
merce commission What the board
did was simply follow the mandate
of the law, and, instead of opposing
the reduction, simply asked the 1. =.
c. that the matter be held IN aDeyance
mill the merits of all sides could be
properly investigated. Thai the com
plaint of the millers was not unbound
ed is indicated by the reply of a Ger
rier to the boards query as to what
measures would be taken 70 insure
that the wheat would really be ex-
ported. The reply said: To be en-
tirely frank must admit that under
general practice of transit arrange
ments on grain, impossible to trace
the product of the mill to any partl-
cular inbound shipments of grain. Any
operator of flour mills will clearly
demonstrate this situation to your
satisfaction
10 Counties Excluded
when it became evident that the
Interstate Commerce Commission
would not suspend the tariffs to IN
yestigate the merits of the various
protests and that the benefits or the
reduction did not extend east OF q
line from Havre to Billings, thereby
excluding a great wheat producing area
of Montana, the board commenced q
fight 70 eliminate the discrimination
against the producer of wheat sold IL
the domestic market whether east OF
west. against all the wheat producers
in 10 counties in eastern Montana not
reached by the reduced rates, anc
against the miller whose products NOV
ed in domestic competing
with the mills in other western states
This was done because the law makes
it the boards duty to tight agalns'
unfair discrimination as well as ex'
cessive rates. The board must serve
all the people of the state and nc
one group or class. -,
Thursday the board sent the fol.
lowing message to the three prlnclpa
carriers:
"HThis board, as you well know
desires all the rate reductions 1t car
get, and consequently wishes to re
tain full benefit of seven cent re
duction on grain for export west
higher rates on domestic grain in dl'
rect discrimination against farmer anc
miller selling in domestic commerce
east bound or west bound, for move
ment of his grain in domestic com
merce for like distance is identica
with movement of export grain. Fur
Their. all Montana grain farmers cas-
of Havre, Winnett and Billings in Is
counties, are Disseminated agains
because your tariffs stop short of tina
territory. Formally request of yol
now reduction of at least seven cent
rer hundred on grain from all Mon
tana points to Pacific coast points, II
respective of use at destination: ant
proportionate reduction on grain t.
eastern markets. Request speedy &c
tion for immediate benefit. You
voluntary action is proof of fact yo1
can reduce the greater tonnage. IL
domestic commerce even more thai
seven cents and farming interests ar
entitled to all reduction possible.