The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-10
Railroad Board Orders Revision
And Reduction of Certain Rates
Recommendation M q d e to
Railroads That They Vol.
unfairly Adjust Rates,
Rules and Regulations
Present Rates Discriminate
in Favor of Fargo and
Against jamestown

Deciding q case which has been
pending before it for two years, the
state railroad board today ordered
reyisions' of certain intrastate class
freight rates. with respect to. James
town, ordered reductions in rates on
brick and related articles and carload
rates on gravel for distances over
375 miles.
Certain tariff rules Of the rail-
roads. with respect to joint rates be-
ing inapplicable in connection with
shipments stopped in. transit, were
found unreasonable and ordered cam
celed and q rec commendation made to
the railroads that they voluntary
adjust certain rates, rules. regula-
ti0ns and practices in accordance
with the recommendations" of the
commission.
No order was issued by the COM
mission with regard to carload rates
on hay, edible livestock, grain and
grain products including seeds, be.
cause of the fact that these now are
now under consideration by the in
terstate commerce commission in
proceeding in which the state railroad
board is cooperating.
History Of Case Outlined
Giving the history of the case
which was launched in May, 1925, the
board in its decision shows how the
railroads attempted and failed to gain
certain rate increases asked Of both
the interstate commerce commission
and the state railroad board. Mos
Of these, the decision pointed out
were related to the case now decided
or to the cooperative proceedings by
the federal and state commissions u
which hearings now are being held.
In the case before the interstate COM
merce commission, President Frank
Milhollan Of the North Dakota board
is one Of a committee of state rail
road commissioners appointed to sit
with the federal body.
Application by the railroads for in
crease in intrastate class rates was
Withdrawn pending decision Of the
class rate case now before the inter-
state commerce commission.
Rates on the Chicago & North
western and Midland Continental
routes as well as carload rates on
Ignite, commodity rates on emigrant
mOvables or carload rates on sand and
gravel for distances less than 375
miles were not involved in the pro-
ceeding.
A case filed by the Jamestown
Warehouse company and others pro-
testing against class rates from
jamestown to certain points on the
500 line was dismissed and joined
with the case now decided.
Some Shippers Indifferent
Commenting on the testimony Of
fered by shippers and the railroads
49, in, u
the board said that failure Of ship.
pers Of certain commodities to appear
at the hearing made it impossible to
determine II rates on their products
are unreasonable or otherwise un-
lawful and thut, in the absence Of
an affirmative showing, the commits
sion was not in position to condemn
such rates. As result no changes
were ordered with regard to them. ).
In declining to rule on general
class rates involved in the hearing,
the board pointed out that the class
rate case now before the interstate
commerce comm ission is proceeding
expeditiously and said the board is
impressed with the value of such CO.
operative proceedings. lntrastate
class rates will be decided after the
federal body hos given decision
with regard to interstate class rates,
the decision said.
Upholding the contention Of James.
town interests, the commission held
that Joint rates from Fargo to points
on the 500 lire were generally lower
than those from Jamestown 10 points
on the 500 line for the same distance
and that this difference constituted
discrimination in favor Of Faro. i
was developed at the hesring that
rates from Fargo were established
20 years ago to build up Fargo as q
jobbing center and were never re-
vised.
The railroads were ordered to file
new joint rates which shall be rsa-
sonable and non-discriminatory as
between jamestown and Fargo TO
points on the 500 line. distance con-
sidered.
Brick Rates Dlscrlm,natory
Revbewing the freight rate situa.
,tion with regard 70 brick, the board
found that present rates diserimin-
CONTINUED % e6ge thvesl .'