Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-06
M0NTAMFAvORED
IN REDUCTION Of
RAILROAD RATES
Mountain Pacific Group Had
Least Increase and Greatest
Tariff Cut.
(Tribune's Helena Bureau.)

Helena, June 5.-Montana has Jared
better in railroad rate reductions than
other states that are not in this DIS
trIct, according to a comparison mace
by the Montana railroad commission.
The commission in a statement on the
rate question explains that the Mount
ain Pacific group, in which Montana is,
had the least increase and now has the
greatest reduction. The commission
has been constantly vigilant In pro-
tecting the interests of the people of
the state and has opposed every effort
to increase rates. The commissions
statement follows:
The Montana railroad commission
has completed a digest of the report
and order of the interstate commerce
commission in docket No. 1928. COM
monty known as the general rate In
vestigation case, which was decided on
May 10th, and embraces the entire
freight situation in the United States.
Commission Acts.
"This investigation was commenced
in December, 1921, for the purpose OF
determining what the rate of return to
the carriers should be upon the expira-
ton of the 6 per cent period fixed by
the transportation act of 1920. and
which expired March LIST, 1922. The
Montana commission interviewed and
has devoted to this case a great deal Of
it's time since the commencement of
this action, and inasmuch as the 70
per cent increase, taking effect Sep
TENDER LIST, 1920, applied on Montana
intrastate traffic as well as interstate
commerce, it was certain that what
ever reduction was found to be right
and proper at this time, would apply
also within this state and the Mon
tana board, knowing exactly what the
situation was. has endeavored to ex-
plain the status of conditions to the
public so that it might know that ev-
erything possible was being done to
protect the interests of the Montana
people.
we are extremely gratified with the
results. We realize that the general
public does not understand freight
rates, but in order that anyone may
know the result of this investigation,
we would here explain that the state
Of Montana has Jared admirably
throughout this entire transaction as
will be noted from the following table
Reduced
Advance Effective
81, 1920 7-1,1922
Southern and Noun
tain PacificGroup $50 500
International Traf-
tic ...........o l-oEo 40%o
Western group. $3.50 3ohfo
Eastern group. 400 $3.50
The Mountain Pacific group as
above. includes the state of Montana,
and it will be seen that the advance in
rates, effective September 1st. 1920,
in that group was but 25 per cent,
which is the lowest of any of the
groups comprising the entire country.
Then, again, the reduction that comes
at this time is greater in the Montana
section than in n other district, it be
ing 30 per cent of the advance that
took place under ex. parte order No.
"a, whereas the reductions that took
in other districts are but 40, 3S1h and
per cent, respectively.
All Rates to Participate.
1T should be understood, of course. |
that on rates which have been reduced
since September 1st. 1920, that the full
amount of the reductions now prescrib- |
ed by the commission cannot be ap-
piled in equity; for example a rate
which may have been reduced since
LIST, 1920, could not be ex-
pected to enjoy the full amount of the
percentage reduction that is now order
ed. but such reduced rate will partici-
pate in its share of the whole. In or
words, q rate that has been re-
say ; per cent, within the last
81 months, for the purpose of eliminat-
ing a portion of the advance under ex
parte order No. "A, is now subject to
a further reduction of > per cent, but
no more.
Much detail is involved in this coun- !
try-wide situation and it is not possible |
to explain infinitely in this brief
but we will be very pleased to
all inquiries from interested
and We solicit the shippers of
the state to confer with this board on |
any and all matters concerning this
situation on which they may not be
ERANK CIGCWnRTL MEG |