Show S BETTER ETTER RATES DEMANDED I Spokane cl Begin Bein l Tight light hl on OIL ll Several Sev Sm eral Const t Roads Huml Spokane Wash wh Jan 1 11 1 A A battle over freight ht rates the lie result resul of which nUl may affect wholesale centers all al over o the nation naion began Cg n at nl tile trie court coUr house this his morning before Interstate Commerce Commerce Com Coin merce Commissioners Charles A. A Prou Prouty and Franklin K Lane It H Is the suit of the city of Spokane the Chamber of Commerce and anul the thc Spokane kane IUne Jo Jobbers Jobbers' ers ers' association n against time the Great Northern the time Northern Pacific the Oregon Hallwa Railway an and Navigation and amid allied aled railway lines The Time complaint chor charges es unjust discrimination discrimination Ils- Ils dis dis- crimination In freight rates the rates on goods shipped from Eastern points to Spokane being based on the through h rate from the lie East to the Pacific coast cont plus the thc return rate from the thc coast to Spokane The Tho shippers of or this his ci contend that it is hI unjust t to to charge more nire to haul goods to this city than to haul them hem through Spokane and miles mies further to the thc coast coast The fhe railways arid and the wholesale dealers deal deal- ors ers O. O of or coast cities contend that the lie lower rate rte Is Justified b by tho tin danger anger that water competition would throw traffic to steamer slemer lines if Ie the roads charged higher rates rates It I is also contended contended con con- tended ed that hat to adopt the tho principle of requiring rates rutes from roni tho the I Interior points to Spokane to be C equal to or orless orless 01 less les than time the rates rales to the he coast might revolutionize revolutionise the lie jo Jobbing ln trade all al overtime over 0 the time country the ys tem of oC gi gilg giving lg- lg lower rates to coast cities being heinE general general Spokane is represented in iii the lie rate raten n light ht i by hy Brooks A Adams of Boston H H. M M. Stephens and Corporation Counsel J J. J M. M r r. r G Geraghty crash ly of uC this city Tho railways rail mail ways was aro are represented b by a strong corps of oC If Ic legal al advisers adviser's all It I being estimated that or Ul attorneys s 's have been een enlisted in iii one manner or ot another in inthis inthis this c caf care sc e. e The Tho hearing is expected to last lust two tWI l days s 's and aud may bo- bo followed foI by supplementary hearings in iii lie tho coast cl cities 8 |