I believe that the railroads are being helped in their fight against water transportation by local jobbers, who desire to extend the territory in which they job their commodities as against jobbers handling the same line of goods in the intermountain States. For example, the jobber of the Puget Sound country and Portland want to drive the jobber of Spokane, Helena, and other interior points out of business by having a lower rail rate to the water's edge, presumably for the purpose of competing with water transportation, when in fact, it is in truth, competition against the jobber in the interior country, each one of which is entitled to cover their natural territory without any handicap imposed. To repeat, the Puget Sound country will prosper most, when States like Montana, Idaho, North and South Dakota, as well as eastern Washington and Oregon, become successful. When they do, the Puget Sound country will have an increased line of business, as a very large percentage of the products produced in the States mentioned are marketed through either Portland, Tacoma, or Seattle, via the water route. I am hopeful that the Government will not place any handicap on water transportation, for the reason that the Pacific Coast States need the cheapest transportation available. Very truly, W. H. PAULHAMUS. OKLAHOMA COTTONSEED CRUSHERS ASSOCIATION, Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: This is to advise you that the undersigned and the organization which he represents are very much interested in the early passage of the Gooding bill pertaining to the long-and-short-haul clause of the interstate commerce act. Our people are believers in the equity and justice of that portion of the act which says that no higher rate shall be charged for a shorter haul than a longer haul over the same line. It is all right to allow the railroads some leeway in which to meet competition between themselves, because their services are of the same character, and no harm can be done, provided the charge is no higher over the long than over the short line for the same distances; but when they attempt to meet water and market competition, it is a "no bottom" proposition, for competition will force the rates down to an unremunerative point, and other communities will have to pay exorbitant rates for less service in order to enable the carriers to give the greater service to competing communities at rates which are noncompensatory. The passage of the Gooding bill will finally stop such foolishness, which should have been stopped 20 years ago. We hope you will do everything you possibly can to get this very needful legislation on the statute books before the close of the present session of Congress. Sincerely yours, Mr. J. A. FORD, J. H. JOHNSTON, Traffic Manager. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hutchinson, Kans., January 3, 1925. Secretary Intermediate Rate Association, Care of Raleigh Hotel, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR FORD: I understand that the interstate commerce committee of the House will begin hearings on or about January 20 with reference to the so-called Gooding bill, which provides for a more rigid application of the longand-short-haul clause of the fourth section to the interstate commerce act. It will be impossible for me to be in Washington during the hearings on this bill, but I have written both Congressmen, the Hon. Homer Hoch, who represents one of our Kansas districts and the Hon. J. N. Tincher, who is the representative from our congressional district of Kansas, asking these gentlemen in behalf, not only of Hutchinson, but all of the territory especially west of the Missouri River as well as the intermountain territory, to give relief from all of the fourth-section violations, abuses and discriminations which prevent a proper development in a manufacturing way of all of this territory and which abuses and discriminations continue to favor the industrial centers of the East. It seems to me that the time has now come when this matter must be looked at in a national sense and that no one section of the country should continue to be favored at the expense of the people living in other sections. As you are aware, I have been located here at Hutchinson for the past four and a half years, coming here from Cincinnati, Ohio, where I was able to see the advantage to the industrial East of the many fourth-section departures. Since coming here, however, I can understand and appreciate more fully how these departures work to the advantage of that section and to the disadvantage of the territory west of the Mississippi River and more especially to the territory west of the Missouri River. It seemed to me that the very height of the folly of such a plan was unmasked in the hearings at Chicago in 1921 when the carriers proposed to put in rates from Atlantic seaboard cities to the Pacific-coast terminal points at less than the rates from the eastern seaboard cities to Hutchinson, Kans. Now, as Hutchinson is very near the geographical center of the country and, from a standpoint of operating costs, the territory from such points as Boston, New York, Baltimore to Hutchinson is comparatively level as compared to the mountain heights and winding ways through the canyons and gorges in all of the mountainous sections west of here where the operating costs mile for mile, undoubtedly, are almost twice as heavy as in any section east of here, that the question of fourth-section relief for American railroads had apparently gone to seed and that all sense of reason and justice had been entirely lost sight of in the making of such rates as were proposed at that time. I will ask, therefore, that you present our views as outlined above at the hearings, regretting that I can not be there, and hope that you will succeed in putting this matter across and that later Congress may see its way clear to further provide that rates between the Atlantic and Pacific seaboard cities through the Panama Canal may come under the regulation of the Interstate Commerce Commission with the same rights to prescribe both maximum and minimum rates for the boat lines handling such traffic as they now exercise with reference to railroad rates. Very truly yours, CHAS. W. MITTENDORF, SHERIDAN COMMERCIAL CLUB, Sheridan, Wyo., January 12, 1925. Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, Chairman, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: In adding our voice to those urging the favorable report of your committee on the Gooding bill, we shall not attempt to present any statistical data. This club is a contributing member of the Intermediate Rate Association, which has had charge of gathering such data. Mr. J. A. Ford, secretary of this association is hereby authorized to act as our personal representative in the hearings before your committee. There is, however, one important factor in the consideration of this measure on which no accurate statistics are available. We speak of the natural resources and possibilities of the vast intermountain country. Immense deposits of copper and other mineral ores are scarcely touched; an unlimited supply of coal is available; new oil fields are being tried and proven; millions of fertile acres lie untilled; streams dash down the mountain sides, their power unharnessed, and flow on through vast plains which, with irrigation, can be made to bloom like Eden. Gradually these resources are being developed. New capital is being invested in mines, in lands, and in manufacturing industries of many kinds. Hydroelectric plants are being built; irrigation systems extended, and virgin soil plowed and planted to food and forage crops. In the development of these resources the two paramount factors are capital and transportation. Our distance from large consuming and producing markets makes the latter a very appreciable item both in determining the net value of the products of our farms, factories and mines, and in the cost of products which we must buy from other sections. Such being the case, it is, we feel, obviously an injustice to our people, and a serious menace to our capital investment, to ask that we pay more proportionately for our transportation than is asked of other communities. Congress long since recognized the unfairness of allowing the carriers to discriminate between individual firms or persons, and such discrimination is forbidden by law. We feel the same principle should apply to communities. This is not only simple justice to the people now living in the intermountain country, and the capital they have invested, but a fundamental requirement of further extensive development. Let us take an example: A firm wishes to establish a woolen mill in the West. Sheridan has many advantages for the location of such a plant. We are close to a large supply of raw material; we have an abundance of pure mountain water; we have cheap coal for power; and we have excellent living conditions for labor. On the other hand, steel and machinery must be shipped in to build and equip the plant, and the freight on the finished product must be considered. Under the rates proposed by the transcontinental carriers this steel and machinery could be shipped from say Chicago, right through the Sheridan yards and 1,200 miles beyond for 20 per cent less than if stopped here. Under the present tariffs any shipment of manufactured products of such a mill originating at Sheridan destined east of Chicago would bear the same freight as if originating on the Pacific coast, taking the intermediate application under transcontinental tariffs. We feel this is hardly fair, but that in itself is not the worst feature. Under the present statutes the carriers may at any time make fourth-section application to have the transcontinental rate made not applicable from our intermediate territory. This would cause our manufacturers litigation and a large expense even if the case were decided in their favor. Under such conditions are we in Sheridan not seriously handicapped in securing such an industry, in spite of our many natural advantages? While the above case is hypothetical, the conditions pictured indicate the uncertain position of our present industry and have a very vital bearing on our industrial future. We are not harping against the railroads. We fully realize their importance to the country, and want them to earn an equitable return on their investment. We are willing to pay our full share of charges to enable them to earn such a return. We object to being forced to bear more than a just portion of such charges, as we would have to do under the fourth-section applications now filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission by the transcontinental lines. Neither do we wish to have our position in favor of the Gooding bill construed as a criticism of the Interstate Commerce Commission, or of any action they have taken. The matter covered by the Gooding bill is one of principle, not of rate making, and this principle should be definitely stated in the statutes for the guidance of the commission, and to relieve the uncertainty and expense attendant upon our industry in defending such actions as the transcontinental carriers now have before the commission for fourth-section violation. In the interests of our people, our present invested capital, and the further development of our resources, we therefore respectfully urge your committee to report the Gooding bill to the House for favorable action. Respectfully submitted, Approved by the Board of Directors, Sheridan, Wyo., January 12, 1925. CHAS. J. OVIATT, Presiden'. Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, NORTHWEST POTATO EXCHANGE, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We, of the intermountain country are very anxious to have the Senate bill known as "the Gooding bill" given early consideration by the House of Representatives, and to this end we are joining with our fellow citizens appealing to you to help us. We have been long and patient sufferers from the effects of the unfair discriminations which have been dealt to us in the way of unjust, unfair, and unreasonable rates as compared with other sections and we feel that we are at least entitled to be heard in our own behalf on this bill at an early date. Our representative, Mr. J. A. Ford, has been requested by us to present our application to you in order that you may realize that the whole intermountain territory is requesting an early disposition of the Gooding bill. The unfair discrimination between western dealers in our line and those occupying more favorable locations to the east of us has caused us heavy losses in the past and we feel that we are at least entitled to be heard at an early date on the bill that has passed the Senate so long ago. Just why we are not entitled 30420-25-4 to the same fair treatment that other interested interests are, we are at a loss to understand and we are depending on our representatives, Mr. Ford to give us some information on this matter at an early date. Unless it is the settled policy to have the intermountain territory depopulated and the citizens driven to some seaboard point to secure a livlihood we think we might at least be given a hearing, then if it is the opinion of the House of Representatives that our waterways have no rights that the House is inclined to respect and if the Middle West is to be exploited for the benefit of the transcontinental railroads, we are ready to take our medicine, but we feel that we have a right to request prompt action on this bill. These sentiments are shared with almost the entire intermountain region and we have sent Mr. Ford to you to plead for simple justice at your hands. Yours very respectfully, NORTHWEST POTATO EXCHANGE, By G. C. WoOSTER, Secretary. Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, M. C., STATE OF MONTANA, INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT BOARD, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. WINSLOW: I note by press accounts that a hearing on the Gooding bill is soon to be held before your committee. May I take this opportunity to testify as to the importance of favorable consideration from the standpoint of all the people in the intermountain territory. Those of us who are concerned in the development of this region feel that continued effort toward the healthy development that should take place within the next few years will be seriously handicapped if Congress permits our railroads to penalize the intermountain territory through freight rates and that a certain cure for such a condition is provided in the Gooding bill wouthout detriment to the railroads or to any other section of our country. I believe that I reflect the unanimous sentiment of the people in this territory when I express the hope that the measure will be favorably reported out by your committee. Very truly yours, JEROME G. LOCKE, Chairman. Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, STATE OF MONTANA, LIVESTOCK COMMISSION, Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SIR: It has come to our attention that the "Gooding bill" is to have a hearing before your committee in the near future. The Montana Stock Growers' Association, as an organization and the individual members thereof, are vitally interested in this bill and urge immediate favorable action upon it. We feel that in the success of this bill lies the future of the West. Yours very truly, E. A. PHILLIPS, Secretary Montana Stock Growers' Association. BOISE, IDAHO, December 15, 1924. Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, Chairman House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: The Idaho Wool Growers Association, representing some 500 active members among the livestock men of Idaho, is keenly interested in the passage of the "Gooding long-and-short-haul bill," prohibiting discrimination against this region in order to meet water competition. Since we of this territory are wholly dependent upon transportation, our great need is the maintenance of equity and fairness in our rate structure, and we very keenly feel the need of relief from existing discriminatory rates. This association authorizes Mr. J. A. Ford to represent it at the committee hearing. Respectfully yours, IDAHO WOOL GROWERS ASSOCIATION, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Idaho Falls, Idaho, December 16, 1924. Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, Chairman House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: This organization unqualifiedly indorses the Gooding bill, and authorizes J. A. Ford, secretary-treasurer Intermediate Rate Association, to represent us at the coming hearing. We feel that the passage of the Gooding bill is the only fair way in which to relieve this vast intermountain empire of the heavy burden of excessive rates under which it is now laboring. Trusting that your committee will give the wishes of the people of this community the serious consideration to which they are entitled, we remain, Very truly yours, [SEAL.] IDAHO FALLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Per D. A. CALDWELL, Secretary-Manager. Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, CALDWELL COMMERCIAL CLUB, Chairman House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: It has been called to our attention that the bill known as the Gooding long-and-short-haul bill is now in the hands of your committee, but a date for the hearing has not been set. In this connection we wish to urge that that hearing be held as soon as possible as that bill is of the utmost importance to this whole intermountain country. This whole interior country has been the victim of the most unfair discrimination, and we believe that if this bill is enacted it will at least put us on an equal basis with other points, which no right thinking person can deny that we are entitled too. We are this day authorizing Mr. J. A. Ford of Spokane to represent us at the coming hearings, and trust that this hearing will not long be delayed and that the Committee's report will be favorable. Yours very truly, CALDWELL COMMERCIAL CLUB, THE NOGALES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hon. SAMUEL E. WINSLOW, DEAR MR. WINSLOW: Along with the balance of the intermountain country Nogales is very much interested in the passage of the Gooding bill, making absolute the long-and-short-haul clause of the transportation act. For years the intermountain region has had its business upset by the repeated attempts of the railroad companies to obtain exceptions to the fourth section to the disadvantage of the business of this region. We have been called upon continually to defend our position in these cases at the expense of the merchants of our city, Congress can cure this situation and we believe that this could be best done by the enactment of the Gooding bill. |