The Bismarck tribune., 1931-11-02
new CLASS FREIGHT
RATES T0SAVE n. D.
$5,OO0,O)0 A YEAR
Revised Scale in Northwest Will
Become Effective Dec. 3,
Larkin Explains

new class 1TelSOC TdLeS, WHICH Cle
Interstate Commerce Commission has
ordered to 60 into effect next Dec. 3,
will completely remove the long ex-
isting discrimination against North
Dakota" and will reduce the states
shipping bill by approximately $5,-
O0O, 900, Ben G. Larkin, chairman of
the state railroad commission, said
Monday.
Explaining the effect of the new
rates, Larkin said the case covers all
Interstate class rates In the territory
between Chicago and the North Da-
kota- Montana line, and also between
this territory and all points east of
Chicago.
The general effect of the new rates,
he estimated, is an increase OF about
$17,000,O00 a year in Iowa, Minnesota,
Wisconsin and eastern South Dakota
while North Dakota will save about
5000, ,00C
Cites Specific Cases
Citing as an example shipments
from Chicago to jamestown. Larkin
said the present first class rate is
$2l6h per 100 pounds. whereas the
new first class rate is $1.88, or a re-
duction of 28ia cents per 100 pounds.
At Bismarck, the first class rate from
Chicago is now s2.431s, while the new
rate will be $2.1l, or a reduction OF
321s cents. From Chicago to st..
Paul the first class rate will be in
creased from 90 cents to $l.26 per 100
pounds.
1T has been the policy of the
northern lines,' Larkin said, Ito
charge the full combination over the
Twin Cities into North Dakota and
to grade up rapidly the rates out Of
the Twin Cities Immediately west of
the Minnesota state line. Prior to
the Minnesota rate case in 1907, the
rates in Minnesota, eastern South
Dakota and North Dakota were on
approximately the same level, but on
account of legislative action in Min
nesota and South Dakota, reductions
In their rates were made with no
corresponding reductions in the rates
to North Dakota. The new rates
prescribed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission correct this situa-
tion.'
Over Five Year Period
The class rate case was taken up
at hearings conducted by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission over q
five-year period over the United
States. It was handled under what
is known as the cooperative proce-
dure plan, with Fay Harding, men,
Der of the North Dakota commission
one of the cooperating commission
ers, who sat with the I. G. G. at Wash
ington when the case was orally ar
gued. E. M. Hendricks, traffic ex-
pert for the North Dakota commits
sion, orally argued the case before
the I. G. c. and figured prominently
in the fight for reduced rates. The
I. G: G. has ordered the new rates t<
become effective Dec. after deny.
Ing requests for reopening the case.
Glass rates cover all less than car
load freight and many importan,
commodities moving in carload lots
such as agricultural implements ane
machinery, automobiles, groceries
dairy products, cereal beverages, iror
and steel articles, soap and washing
powder, furniture and other articles.
In its report, the I. c. G. prescribed
% classes based on fixed percentages
of first class and provided, by numer
GUS exceptions, lower rates on agri
cultural implements, dairy products
and certain other articles. than tn