Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1924-10-23
LONG AND
SHORT HAUL
FRENCH Is STRONG FOR
SENATE BILL

MOSCOW, Idaho-The normal re
turn of prosperity in the western in
termountain country, embracing ten
states of the west, has been retarded
because of an adverse transportation
situation that holds industrial pro
gress at a minimum. Congressman
Burton l.. French, chairman OF the
. naval appropriations committee OF
the house of representatives, declar-
ed in a statement issued today.
From time to time during the
last several years, charts have come
to my desk from various national Or
ganizations that have endeayored 10
portray in map or chart from the con-
dition of business throughout the
United States" Congressman French
said. Generally speaking these
charts have showed an improvement
in business for several years past
However, the one dark part of all
charts or maps is the intermountaln
country. Coastal points, industrial
centers, generally show a decided
trend toward prosperity.
"The reason why the inte- noun
tain country continues to show de-
pressed condition is essentially be-
cause of the transportation problem.
First of all, the transportation
situation is against the intermountaln
country because freight rates are be-
tween so and 60 per cent higher
than they were ten years ago. rms
situation operates to the disadyant-
age of the intermountain country
more than it does to any other sec
tion because this country is farther
away from market eenters.
THE second reason why the trans
portation situation is adverse to the
intermountain country is because OF
the present policy of the interstate
commerce commission in upholding
the principle that permits Transports
tion companies to charge higher
freight rates from the east, or from
the central centers OF the United
States, to the inermountain country
than they do to the coastal points
several hundred miles beyond.
This situation operates to the dis
advantage of the intermountain coun-
try in two ways First, it places an
affirmative handicap on everybody
living in the intermountain country
through the requirement thai high
err price for freight is asked for less
service than that for which lower
rate is furnished to competitors on
the coast.
Second, this unequal situation re-
tards the development of manufac-
turing or other industrial plants in
the intermountain country because if
the principle of discrimination in
favor of coast points shall be permit
ted to continue, those who would
otherwise establish industries in the
intermountain country may not be
assured that at any moment competi- I
tors in coastal points will be granted
lower freight rates to the markets
that are Immediately tributary to the
intermountain sections.
"Surely there is something incon-
gruou5 in a situation that permits
Merchant A from Standpoint, Idaho, (;
and Merchant from Portland, Ore
gon, or Seattle, Washington, who /
travel to New York on the same |
train, purchase each a stock of
100000 worth of goods, return to
the west on the same train with the
shipments following in carload lots, !
and then requires Merchant A of /
Standpoint to pay $4,000 more in
freight rates on the shipments that !
are switched to the sidetrocks in |
Standpoint than is charged to Mer-
chant B, whose shipments are identi-
cal with those of Merchant A, and |
are hauled through AS home town |
and four hundred miles farther to
the place of business of B, and with |
the opportunity of to turn around |
and sell his goods in AS market at
a lower rate than A himself can sell .
them.
"The Gooding long and short haul
bill passed the senate in the last con-
gress and, in my Judgment, we
should spare no effort that will bring |
this measure to final passage in the
house upon the re-convening of con-
gress.
1--WE ought to settle once and for
all this long and short haul fight, !
but it can never be settled until it !
shall be settled in a manner that will I
do justice and equity toward the peo-
pie of the intermountain country
generally, and other like sections of
the United States, that are somewhat
remote from central markets.