Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-05-06

roads may be permitted TO eStab-
lish rates which will enable Mid
die West industries to meet the
competition of Eastern manu-
facturers transporting their goods
through the Panama Canal.
Resolution" adopted by Mime
sofa State Legislature 10th Ses-
sion, 1885,.
Whereas, the long-and- short
haul clause of the Fourth Section
of the Interstate Commerce Act
prohibits railroads from making a
lesser charge for a longer than for
a shorter distance over the same
line in the same direction unless
authorized to do so by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission; and
Whereas, the higher rail rates
from Minnesota and other states
in the Middle West to the Pacific
Coast than water rates from the
Atlantic Seaboard to the Pacific
Coast through the Panama Canal
has resulted in Middle West manu-
facturers losing all or substantial
part of their markets on the Pacific
Coast to the advantage of their
competitors located in the east;
and,
Whereas, the elimination Of the
long-and-short-haul clause from
the Fourth Section of the Inter-
state Commerce Act would allow
the railroads to establish reduced
rates from the Middle West to the
Pacific Coast to meet this water
competition without depressing be-
low a reasonable level their rail
rates to points inland from the
Pacific Coast where such water
competition does not exist; and
Whereas, such a readjustment OF
rail rates will enable Middle West
manufacturers to regain sub
stantial part Of their Pacific Coast
business, will result in increased
employment in Middle West indus
tries, will give added employment
to labor in transporting such added
rail traffic to the Pacific Coast, and
will enable the railroads to earn
some additional net revenue to the
advantage of farmers and resi-
dents generally of the Middle West
and west who must employ the
railroads to transport their prod
ucts to market and furnish them
with long haul transportation; and
Whereas, reduced rail rates from
the Middle West to the Pacific
Coast will not result in eliminating
eastern manufacturers from the
Pacific Coast markets or the boat
lines from carrying traffic through
the Canal but will simply afford
Middle West manufacturers an OPP
portunity to compete with eastern
manufacturers for a fair share OF
the Pacific Coast business on a
properly related basis OF freight
rates; and
Whereas, the Middle West con-
tributed by taxes to the conStruc-
ton of the Panama Canal and
contributes to its maintenance and
support and should be permitted 10
have a basis of rail rates which
will prevent the Panama Canal
from working an unjust discriml-
nation against Middle West indus
tries and employment:
Now, therefore. be 1t resolved by
the House of Representatives, the
Senate concurring, that Congress
be memorialized to eliminate the
long-and-short-ha clause from
the Fourth Section Of the Inter
state Commerce Act, or to modify
the same so as to effectively per-
NIT railroads to establish rates to
the Pacific Coast from the Middle
West which will enable Middle
West industries to meet competl-
ton of eastern manufacturers US
ing water transportation through
the Panama Canal.
Be it further resolved, that
copies of this resolution be sent to
both houses of the legislatures OF
North and South Dakota. Iowa,
Wisconsin and Illinois, to the Vice
President of the United States. the
Speaker of the National House OF
Representatives, the senators ana
congressman from the State OF
Minnesota.
Approved April II, 1887.