Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1924-10-02
NEW CHAPTER ADDED TO
FREIGHT RATE BATTLE

Spokane, Sept pa new chap
ter in the long fight of the western
railroads to impose highly discrim
inatory freight rates upon cities anC
towns of the intermountain country
was written in Washington, d. C.
when railroad attorneys filed with
the Interstate Commerce commits
sion 60-page book containing ex.
ceptions of the rail carriers to the
recent report of Examiner NJ. A
Pattison, which recommended thai
the commission deny the railroads
application to violate the long and
short haul law of the transportation
act. Copies OF the railroad excep-
lions have been received by the at
torneys of the intermediate Rate
association, which represents the
intermountain country in the freight
rate controversy.
The pending application asks the
commission to permit the railroads
to discriminate against the inter
mountain country in freight rates so
that they may force the Panama
canal boats out of business and hold
monopoly on transportation.
Exceptions of the railroads to Ex-
aminer Pattison's report of the pen
ding application are built around
4
nelly of the Northern Pacific in his
testimony before the senate COM
mittee on interstate commerce last
spring at hearing on the Gooding
bill (senate bill 1920 which passed
the senate by vote of 81 to %.
The bill is to amend the long and
short haul to make it impossible for
the railroads to charge the interior
high and discriminatory freight
rates, to financ their fight against
the Panama canal boats. In his
testimony President Donnelly said
that the western transcontinental
railroads reaching Pacific coast ter
minals were built through to these
terminals and for the purpose of
serving these terminals"
Senator Smith of South Carolina,
chairman of the senate committee,
Immediately checked Mr. Donnelly
up on his statement by saying that |
the railroads were not built for the .
sole use and enjoyment OF the tehm-
inal cities-that they were built to
serve the intermediate country Just (
as much as any other part of the I
west and were projected through to
ments.
However, in their exceptions the /
railroads Fave required again to Mr..
position as indicating /
that the chief concern of the rail
roads was the building of the termi-
nal cities with little or no consid-
Grafton for the intermediate coun-
try.
Among the exceptions of the rail-
roads to the examiners report are
he following:
''The fact that publication of the
proposed rates will give lower rates
o the Pacific coast from points east
# Chicago than will be in effect to
Intermediate territory does not JUS
ify denying the application.
',The examiner makes no find
ngs and gives no reasons which
would justify the denial of the ap-
ication
"The findings of the examiner,
'ased on the record in this case,
how that the applicants have met ,
IL the requirements of the law and
f the commissions rules and are
Untitled to fourth section relief.
1.-The proposed rates are necessary
D meet with water competition and
ill create no unjust discrimination
This application cannot be de- a
led on the ground that publication
proposed rates would be a viola "
on of section 500 of the trans Il
ortation act.''
In the brief supporting the excep-
ons the railroad attorneys bear out o
lie former testimony Of President =
onnelly when they say: y
''The transcontinental lines were h
lilt to handle this long haul traf-
C (the traffic to Pacific coast ter
inals). Not one of them would az
I've been built for years after it te
as built, if at all, if it had been pl
nounced as the policy of the gov re
that they would not be
rmitted to engage in transconti-
ntal traffic. Long before these
at lines with which the attorney m
aminer would not permit the rail m
rriers to compete, were in exist on
ce, thes rail lines spent tens of VI
lions of dollars to aid in h sc
owth and development of the en- ii
~ Il Il = S,s y y