Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1920-10-21 | Page 4 | Evidence of a Big Country

BBBBBBBBBBJ , - ji EVIDENCE OF A BIG COUNTRY A peculiar situation has arisen in connection with the attempt of tin- Lntcratati Commerce Commission to fvt intrastate ratos At ;i hearing recently held in Washington, t 1m- railroad commissioiia ol thirtv-nine states were represented in a protesl sgainat what wh- termed the njrhts of the states to determine for themselves the rail- i ,.,n. rates which should pr ;iil on traffii ifined to state D.OUndai 1 ,rs John E Benton, representing the state eominissions sid rar- riers were taking the course thej had mapped oul in the hop? of es- tabliahing a pre lenl which will destroy the rate making power not oni of state commissions but oi tin- slat-' legislatures." Ledysrd P, Hale, counsel for the Si rid New York public sorv- lee commission, appealed for a dismissal of the rcquesl "The stati of New York.' he said, "has spent more than $200,000,000 on the Brie canal and its successor, the Barge canal and terminals, The i anal is open to interstate ami foreign aonunercc free. It is New Yoi-k offering to the west and northwcsl U in addition t.. theii using it free to effect ;i saving in interstate traffic New. York should1 B i.e compelled to surrender all control over its pureh domestic rates fheri indeed it will experience the Uigratitude of the republic." 1 The ea.se of the Brifl CSnal proves how difficult it is, in a COUI) j irv of as nian oiiflietin- int. r. sts ;is jrrc to DC found in ihe United 1 States. tO make a rule nation w id.- and QOl Ulfticl an extraordinary HB burden on one or enterpri i i