Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1887 — THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION. [ARTICLE]

THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION.

yamorous Petitions for Relief from Kxeesslve Freight Kate*. [Washington telegram.] The Interstate Commerce > Commission has promulgated the following rule of proceeding:

“Applications made for the official action of the commission shall be made by petition, which shall set forth the facts ’on which they are founded, and be verified by the oath of the applicant or of some authorized agent or attorney.” Senators Dolph and Mitchell, of Oregon, presented to thh commission memorials of various Board* of Trade in that State praying for relief from exorbitant freight charges in time to save this year’s crop. Senator Dolph also presented a petition of the Portland (Oregon) Board of Trade in relation to the long and short haul features. The memorialists say they are not assured that the true meaning of the law forbids the making of rates to coast' points in competition with the watercarriers and the Canadian Pacific; yet if the commission so interprets > the law they ask the prompt use of the suspending power. A committee representing the Macon (Ga.) Board of Trade submitted an elaborately written argument in support of the petition for the suspension of the long and i-hort hsul clause, presented by Southern business men. The more sparsely settled condition of the South, and its deficiencies in many respects as compared with the manufacturing centers of the North and East, were fully sat forth as matters which justify the intervention of the commission. The declaration was made that if the interpretation now threatened had been foreseen when the bill was under consideration the South would have opposed the measure nnanimously. E. B. Russel, attorney for the Mobile A Ohio Railroad Company, presented a memorial praying that it be permitted to maintain its local rates at non-competing points and meet competition at “junction points” by reduced rates. The petition says the road’s revenues are cut so low by competition with water routes that any redaction would endanger its solvency. His request for an opportunity to address the commission on Wednesday was granted. The following letter, addressed to th 6 General Superintendent of the Canadian Express Company, by direction of the commission, explains itself: DSab Sir—Your letter of the Ist Inst., requesting the decision of the commission upon tne question whether the interstate commerce law applies to express companies has been laid before the commission and duly considered. If any express company desires to be heard by the commission on the question yon raise, an early opportunity will be offered for the purpose ; but until such hearing is applied for the commission will assume that the law does apply to such companies. Very respectfully. T. M. Cooley, Chairman.

The I.ake Carriers Object. The following telegram was sent to the Interstate Commerce Commission by the Lake Carriers’ Association: Understanding that the question is now before you of permitting rail lines to charge less for a long than a short haul, thus enabling the rail lines to continue their illegitimate competition with the water route as if the interstate commerce law had not been enacted, the Lake Carriers’ Association, comprising a majority of the vessel tonnage of the great lakes, request that you will hear an argument from it in opposition to such permission being granted, and that you will fix a time for such hearing. We will undertake to have a representative appear before you at whatever time you may set, prepared to present and support our views.