The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-03-07
WAY TELLS WHY
IDAHO DEMANDS
RATE EQUALITY
Senator Cooding's Secre-
tary Makes Plea for
Long and Short Haul
Adjustment


Washngton-Appearing before tn,
senate committee on interstate com
me-ce in behalf of Senator Gooding'.
bill which would prohibit the rail
roads from charging more for a shor'
haul than for a long haul. Leonard
Way of Boise, Senator Gooding's
secretary. speaking for the Public
Utilities Commission OF Idaho told
the committee that his state and other
Intermountain States are supporting
this bill because they demand what
they concedc to every other section,
the benefits of their geographical To-
cation. New York. Boston, Portland
and Seattle and other coast cities are
entitled to the advantages accruing to
them by reason of their location on
tidewater, he said, but it is equally
true that Idaho and all the Inter
mountain country is just as entitled
to the advantage of their geographi-
cal location.
Yying closest TO the great manufac-
turing centers of the east than are
the terminal cities on the west coast,
Idaho and the Intermountain States
want rates on what they buy in the
east that are lower than rates from
the east to the Pacific coast. Lying
closer to Portland and Seattle than
to Chicago and other big eastern mar
kets, the Intermountain country de-
mands rates on her products to west
coast terminals lower than rates to
the more distant consuming markets
of the east.
Farmer Always Pays
Mr.. Way pointed out that the con-
sumer pays the freight on manufac-
tured products; the farmer pays the
freight on what he ships to market
The farmer and the consumer, who
pay freight are interested in having
reasonable and on-discriminatory
rates.
Until congress definitely and in un-
mistakable terms lays down an abso-
lutte long and short haul clause, there
will be continued agitation and chang
ing rates, said Mr.. Way. This con-
slant changing of rates disturbs bust
ness, reards development and tends
to upbuild localities having favorable
railroad rates at the expense of COM
munities paying the highest rates, and
rates which constantly huctuate. If
congress will pass the Gooding bill.
this constant agitation will cease. he |
said. In the meantime, said Mr.. Way
development of the interior remains
at standstill, capital does not want
to invest in any enterprise unless it
can be assured permanent and stable |
policy, and constant changes Of freight
rates turn capital from the states ad-
versely affected by these changes.
Cites Various Items
Mr.. Way called to the attention of
the committee and exhaustive study
made By the interstate commerce COM
mission for Senator Gooding showing
the cost Of Transporting various COM
modtics between certain important
points, and applied those cost to rates
which the railroads now seek to put
INTO effect. Taking dry-goods as an
illustration, Mr.. Way showed that
the present rate from Chicago to the
hrst station west of Ogallala, Ncbras-
ka, 82l miles is the same as the rate
to Portland 2,262 miles. This rate
Si.S9 per hundred pounds and this
is the rate to Idaho as we'll The
railroads now propose to reduce the
rate to Portland to Sl.l0. The cost
sheets furnished Senator Goodirg by
the commission show that the cost
OF transporting 100 pounds of dry
goods from Chicago to Portland.
reckoning not only the actual cost
OF moving the goods but figuring in
rents, taxes and S}4 per cent return
on the investment. is $l.10, while the
cost of moving the same goods, Chi
cago to Ogallala is only ~ cents
The railroads propose to retain their
present rate of $lss to Ogallala and
to points between there and Portland.
but to give Portland rate of Sl.l0,
The cost figures, said Mr.. Way. show
that the rate the carriers propose to
Portland is fair rate. while the ex-
isting rate to the interior points is
$50 per cent OF reasonable rate.
Such abuses as that, Mr.. Way con-