Show RIGHT TO REGULATE RATES A california judge hands down an Import important decision it Is 1 one of the he hoat in connection walk rates that him been delivered in IL a tic he cade Attorney is say the cane came will not lie he appealed los angelos Ang clos cal aug ll ii judge welborn of the united states circuit cir crit court handed down a decision here this forenoon to of great moment involving some entirely new and original questions touching the right of congress to regulate the rates chargeable by by the railroads ot the country in the conduct of interstate commerce business it is probable the most important decision ever rendered affecting the rights and privilege lees of railroad corporations in this country the amount involved Is a as large as that of the income tax and the principles laid down by the court are as important in new york and massachusetts as in california the issues settled by this decision are those arising between the government of the united states and land grant railroads railroad as to the rate of compensation that the railroads should receive from the government for the transportation of troops mail and other effects the roads claimed that they had a right to charge tle government the same rates as individual shipp cra or travelers while hile congress has breque frequently antly provided that the compensation should hoi ild not exceed halt half the mcg regular ular rate the exact figures figurer to be fixed by the secretary of war under these acts of congress only half regular rates rater have been paid by the government and the roads desiring to have the matter settled for all time brought a test case under the court of claims act the atlantic pacific rall railroad road being the plaintiff to recover 1 full fare for the transportation of a trooper one phillip Ihil lip barrett from albuquerque N al to prescott junction ariz a distance of miles the regular fare for the trip is 25 70 the government offered 13 1323 23 the railroad refused to accept that sum and brought suit euit for the full amount the deci decision gion i is a complete victory for the government the importance of this decision may be understood when it is stated that the atlantic and pacific alone would receive a year more for or the transportation of troops and that when the charges for carrying the malls mails are added the difference on this 1116 one road in favor of the government reaches annually the decision however is not applicable to the land grants alone but applies to all the railroads in the countr country yand and is not confined to government business but involves the rights of congress to fix compensation for all charges by the railroads for interstate commerce the railway say the cas case e will not be appealed |