Show LONG AND SHOO HAUL UP CASE NOW BEING HEARD BEFORE interstate COMMERCE COM MISSION AT washington goth both sides submit final arguments in carriers attempt to cut rates between chicago and coast washington rinal final arguments in the transcontinental trans continental long and short haul case were begun last thursday before the interstate commerce commission the transcontinental trans continental carriers argued for a reduction of rates from midd lewest points such as chicago to pacific coast terminals in order to meet competition of the rail and water routes from the atlantic to the pacific coast they contend that under the present rates steel products may be shipped from pittsburg to the atlantic coast and thence by water to the pacific coast for less than the same products may be shipped from chicago to the same pacific coast points the carriers camera have asked authority of the commission to reduce the rates from middlemost middle points to the pacific coast without reducing the rates to intermediate points the application was actively opposed by many of the intermediate points affected frank lyon represent representing steamship interests argued against the proposed reduction contending that it would take business away from ship lines and would not be in line with the policy of congress to promote both kinds of transportation the united states steel corporation represented by C S belsterling also opposed the reduction on the around round that it would be unwise to upset the rate structure now and thereby unsettle conditions on the pacific coast because of competition from foreign steel interests independent midwest steel interests through robert hula however criticized the stand of the steel corporation and argued in favor of the rate reduction the city of new york the boston chamber of commerce and the new england traffic association all represented by W H chadler opposed the application on the ground that it would deny shippers on the atlantic seaboard the advantage of their geographical location in shipping their products by water to the coast john E renton benton representing the intermediate rate association and corporation po ration commissions commis sons of seven intermountain states declared that to grant the reductions would wreck the panama canal as a commercial agency by making rail rates that would draw virtually all of the commerce away from it he contended that the reduced rates would also work a hardship on intermediate territory |