Show SALT LAKE LIE IS TO TAKE PART IN RATE CASE Will Be Represented by Counsel at the Hearp Hearing Hear- Hear p l ing A April 1 24 INVITED BY SPOKANE 1 Closing I. I sing of f Panama Canal Gives Coast Cities Unfair Unfair Un Un- fair Advantage On invitation of ot J. J B. B Campbell Campb ll representing the Spokane Interests in inthe inthe the he Salt Lake rate case which recently was reopened and on which a hearing has been set by the interstate te commerce commerce com corn merce commission for April 24 the traffic service bureau of ot Utah will will be represented at the proceedings by counsel It is not known however at this time who will attend The in invitation invitation in- in for Salt Lake interests to participate with Reno and Spokane in inthe inthe inthe the rehearing of the case was contained In a a. telegram received this morning by byS bys S S. S H. H Love from J. J B. B Campbell counsel for the Spokane interests I The petition for a reopening of the case was filed flied by the Spokane and andReno andReno Reno Heno Interest on the grounds that the Panama canal being closed to to traffic the rates now in effect give the coast points an unfair advantage over the Interior cities The rates ordered Inthe in inthe inthe the Salt Lake case by b tho the interstate commerce commission were made to tc give the railroads a a. reasonable tariff tn in competition with steamship lines but the now hold that the canal being closed and there being practically no water competition on account I of the heavy use of vessels In war service the rates as fixed are arc unfair The commission in the Salt Lake rate the Missouri case made mado the rate from river to San Francisco per cent and ordered that rates to interior points should not e exceed that to the coast Rates from Chicago were to b be 10 per cent from zone three or Buffalo and Pittsburg per cent and zone four Atlantic seaboard per cent 1 This basis of rate was fixed by taking water competition to coast points into consideration That factor now eliminated the petitioners ask for a 8 re readjustment readjustment readjustment re- re I adjustment of rates to give interior advantage In rates a athe as cities the same the coast cities What Petition Says Saya The Tho petition filed flied with the interstate I t commerce commission says That Tim x since said orders Salt Lake rate case commission commis commis- honorable were made by b your slon sion conditions and circumstances have hav materially changed that the Panama canal is now and for several months month past has been closed by land slides s so that no shipping of any kind Is being done through said canal and your you petitioner is informed and believes that said paid canal cannot be opened for use of e vessels sels for a a. p period pl of from one to two years or if opened before said time that the passage through said Panama canal will be uncertain ln and unreliable and cannot be depended upon by vessels vessels ves yes sels sels engaged in the transportation of merchandise from coast to coast That since said orders were made shipping conditions have materially changed In that there is now a great reat deal more tonnage being offered railroads for shipment than can be handled by the said railroads and steamship companies and that steamships formerly engaged d din in traffic from coast to coast because of the European war have engaged in other trade and even If it the said canal was opened at once because of said boats being engaged in foreign trade it would not be possible for them to engage engage engage en en- gage in coast to coast trade for one to two years earsOn ears On account of the changed condi condl- conditions conditions and there being no water com com- corn com petition the rates now maintained to the interior intermountain cities and particularly to Spokane as against the rates maintained to the coast cities and particularly Portland Tacoma Seattle and other Northwest cities on the Pacific coast are unduly The claim set forth as discriminatory against Spokane also applies to Salt Lake in the opinion of the traffic service bureau and every effort will willbe willbe be put forth to have railroads put into effect rates which will place Salt Lake on a basis equal with other cities on the coast and interior points |