, 1923-03-21
No Rate Compromise

IL terror sections of the country have been a bur
den long borne by the people. 1t has not only been
a burden, it has more nearly approached a crime.
I or the practices in vogue by the -a1lscontinenta
lines have made goats of us in the interest Of the
sheep Ut seaboard terminals. 1t will never go down
with the American people that there is any justice
equity or even fairness in rail rates that cost
intermountain folks as much or more than
Pacific coast folks on shipments from the
east. The railroads are again applying for
fourth section relief in the matter of rates affecting
the intermountain territory, and upon this sub
iect the Spokane Spokesman Review unburdens
its mind thus:
when the interstate commerce commission de-
cided against the application of the transeontin-
entail railroads for permission to make sweeping
rate reductions to the Pacific coast terminals
while maintaining the high rate levels to the in
terror, the hope was expressed everywhere in the
broad intermountain regian that the railroads
would accept the decision in good spirit adjust
themselves to the transportation law of 1920 and
give the interior communities a square deal.
"rbe Spokesman-Review regrets that it was
a vain hope, Il dclusive expectation The Transcon-
tinental Freight bureau, agency of all the trans
continental lines, has served written notice on the
officers of the intermediate Rate association that
the transcontinental lines will Immediately pro
coed with the preparation of proposed rates TO
terminal points, which will be later submitted to
the interstate commerce commission for relief
from the fourth section of the transportation act
"This is a renewed effort at discrimination
against the interior. The obvious purpose is to
harass interior communities with a threat of re-
newed and prolonged litigation before the inter
state commerce commission and in effect, to say
to the interior: You see, we have the power to
put you to renewed expense, effort, uncertainty
and anxiety. Don't you think it would be better for
us 10 come together and work out a compromise? p
by compromise they would mean abandonment
by the interior of its stand on the law and assent
to some kind of modified discriminatory practice
under which the interior would pay higher rates
for the shorter haul than the coast terminals would
be asked to pay for the longer haul.
GAS a matter of fact, the transcontinental roads
are negotiating right now for a conference with
the Intermediate Rate association at Salt Lake
City. Secretary James A.. Ford of the intermediate
Rate association has just advised its members, I'M
der date of February q, that the Trnnscontinental
Freight bureau is already serving notice that it is
going to file a new application for fourth section
relief. n addition they have made a personal re
quest through President Mccarthy for a conference
with the intermediate Rate association at Salt
Lake City for the purpose of discussing this ap-
plication prior to filing it,
The traffic bureau of the Spokane Chamber of
Commerce, as Secretary Ford points out in his
bulletin, has discussed this question at great
length and is of the unanimous opinion that this
is no time for the railroads to seek a conference
AS Secretary Ford f~orcefully adds, Let them first
put these reduced rates into effect: let's see how
high the water rates are going; let's try the new
schedule and let's see if the new rates do not
attract for the railroads a fair share of this traf-
fic, in competition with the boat lines
at is a further fact that a we'll directed move
ment is now under way among the owners of the
boat lines TO advance water rates. After a confer
ence with Chairman Lasker of the United States
shipping board an agreement was reached to put
each boat line under n $4,000 bond to adhere TO
the increased conference rates.
"The transcontinental lines would like to rush
the interior into an ill-advised Compromise to &C
cept higher and discriminatory rate and then.
when the boat lines had abated their present severe
competition, hold the interior to the compromise
and continue the discrimination along the old. un.
Just lines forbidden by law and disapproyed by
the interstate commerce commission. Their pur-
pose is to lure the interior away from its present
strong base of law and commission decision. If
the Intermediate Rate association should yield to
these Establishments it would discredit itself with
the public, with congress and with the commission;
1t would weaken its own righteous cause and would
find itself in a poor position, if necessity later
should drive the interior to q renewed stand for
justice.
"The course of the interior is too plain to be
mistaken. 1t should stand on the law and the
decision of the commission, and should press with
renewed yigor its demand upon congress for an
absolute, unconditional long and short haul law.
Our true policy is well stated by G.. B. Calf of
Boise, Idaho, one of the Representatives of the In.
termediate Rate association at the recent Chicago
conference with the transcontinenta roads. I'm
mediately upon his return to Boise Mr.. Graft wrote
to Senator Gooding:
"'We believe that. a rigid fourth section bill can
be the only answer to the repeated and i~nsistent
demand that the intermountain territory bear the
brunt of rail rates, and We urge that you immedi
ately press your long.and-short-hau1 bill in the in.
terests of this vast territory
"The interior should hold to its hard-won base
it should press with renewed vigor its demands
for terminal rates or better"