The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-12-12
CHARGES TWIN CITIES.
AND DULUTH SEEKING.
UNFAIR PREFERENCES
Declares Delay in Starting New
Rates Detrimental to
North Dakota
DEMANDS Immediate ACTION
Says This State Should Have
Same Privileges as Min
nesota Cities
DEMANDS Immediate ACTION

nesota Cities
Postponement of the effective date
Of the new class rates within western
trunk line territory ordered by the
Interstate Commerce Commission Is
vigorously opposed in a brief filed
with the commission by E. M. Hen
bricks, traffic expert of the state
board Of railroad commissioners, IN
behalf of the people of the state OF
North Dakota.
The brief is aimed at the petition
of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce,
the Minneapolis Traffic association.
and the st. Paul association. who re-
quested postponement Of the effec-
tive date. and reconsideration. in
part, of the class rate case before the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
The effective date for the new
rates was first set for about Nov. l or
until new schedules could be drawn
up. The date was later postponed to
Feb. /, and last week railroads re-
quested the federal commission to ex-
tend the date further to April !.
It was. estimated that a reduction
Of approximately IS, 000, 900 will be ef-
fected annually in North Dakota's
freight bill as a result Of the I. G. G.
decision changing the class freight
rates. The general effect of the new
rates, however, is an increase Of
about ST., OOO, 900 a year in Minnesota.
Iowa, Wisconsin, and eastern South
Dakota, according to estimates made
by the state railroad commission stat
isticians. The Ease covers all inter-
state class rates in the territory be-
tween Chicago and the North Dakota
Montana state line, as well as points
cast Of Chicago and this territory.
Scores Twin Cities, Duluth
Nj. Hendricks termed the petition
of the Minnesota organizations as "a
further effort to continue the long
enjoyed preferential rates Of the Twin
Cities and Duluth to the detriment
of territory west, particularly North
Dakota"
There have been," he continued.
"a number Of proceedings in which
it was clearly established that the
Twin Cities and Duluth had unnatur-
al rate advantages denied western
Minnesota, North and South Dako-
ta."
Citing the Fargo-JameStoWn case,
decided June-.2 1925, Mr., Hendricks
brief called attention to the Inter-
state Commerce Commissions com
ment upon the discrimination
against North Dakota and the pref
creme accorded the Twin Cities and
Duluth"
LAS a result of the commissions
order in that case" the brief con-
tinued, "some adjustments were made
TO eastern North Dakota but they
only slightly relieved the situation.
"Thc brief Of the Twin Cities con-
tains nothing new, but is a re-state-
ment Of the things they urged dur
ing the hearing, on brief, exceptions
to the examiners report, and oral
argument. There Is nothing in their
petition yer remotely indicating that
the commission was unfamiliar with
the effect of its decision or that the
decision Is not fully sustained by the
evidence.
Mere showing Of rate changes, and
opinion Of the petitioners that the
commission should have done some
thing different Is no grounds at all
for modifying the report. II the
eastern rate adjustment Is to be ex-
tended to the Twin Cities and Du-
luth, why not to territory west?
Should Be Same Territory
Under the commissions scheme of
making territorial rate groups-East-
ern, Southern, Southwestern and
Western Trunk li%ne-there must be
dividing lines somewhere. We most
emphatically object to any modifica-
ton Of the commissions decision,
whereby the Twin Cities and Duluth
will be put in Eastern territory unless
North Dakota also Is included.
consolidated with and disposed OF
In the commissions decision was our
formal complaint, in which we al.
legged that rates from and to North
Dakota were unreasonable and dis.
criminatory. when compared with the
rates enjoyed by the Twin Cities and
Duluth. Our evidence completely
sustained our allegations and thu
commission so found and has pre-.
scribed an adjustment which will, IL
a large measure, remove the discrim'
ination against North Dakota ant
the preference Of the Twin Cities ant
Duluth.
Our evidence completely sustaine,
our allegations and the commission
50 found and has prescribed an ad
justment which will. in a large meas
ure. remove the Discrimination
against North Dakota and the pref
erence of the Twin Cities and Duluth
The unreasonableness of our rate
and the severity Of the discrimina
ton against North Dakota Is so grea
that 1t cannot be removed except b.
reducing some of our rates and in
creasing some of the rates to tn
Twin Cities and Duluth. II the com
mission attempted to correct. the un
lawfulness Of the rates to and iron
North Dakota by extending tn
present Twin City basis with all it
numerous special and preferentia
rates, the resultant general rat
level probably would be too low"
Hendricks Makes Denials
Specifications Of error and omis
sion, set out in the petition of tn
Minnesota organizations, were me
with denialS from MI. Hendricks.
I'VE deny the record is insufficient
to support the rate adjustment pre-
scribed by the commission" Mr.. Hen
bricks brief said.
I'VE most earnestly oppose any al
tempt 20 continue the special pref
erential rates long enjoyed by tn
Twin Cities and Duluth and the con
tinued denial OF justice to North Da
kota.