The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-24

Denver, April 25.-The interstate COM
merce commission, at its sessions today,
heard more testimony regarding the dis
elimination in freight rates charged
against the Transmissouri railroads by
Denver merchants and manufacturers.
Information was elected from several
witnesses along the same line as that
given by George J. Kindel. mattress man.
ufacturer. Some of the witnesses &C
knowledged upon Characterization by
railroad attorneys, that they had not
gone deeply into the freight question.
]. X. Choate, of the Overland Cotton
mills, said his petition to the roads had
been granted, at least in part, and he was
tolerably well satisfied. He thought the
carrying out of Mr.. Kindels wishes would
ruin the business of the road in some d.
rections.
The case of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company, which charges discrimination in
the rates on street rails, will probably be
taken up tomorrow afternoon. 1t is
cisco the rate is S1.60, while from Chicago.
Mississippi and Missouri river points, the
rates to California are only %, % and %
cents. Rails are carried from England
by water, transferred across the 1sthmus.
reloaded and taken by boats to San
Francisco for less than the railroads
charge from Denver to the same point.
There was a possibility of the Pueblo
Joaquin railroad in California, but the
rates operated so strongly against the
Colorado product that the company was
prompted TO bring the suit in its own pro-
lection.
AT the afternoon session, the evidence
of the compliments was to prove that
under the classifications made the rail-
roads are united to keep Denver a mere
market for the distributing points on the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers and the
common center, Chicago.
The defense that IS to be made out OF
the water competition which the railroads
must meet at the Pacific coast, was
brought forward when the first witness
for the companies was put on the stand.
TO all appearances the railroads are TO
plead self-preservation in the making Of
rates to interior points greatly in excess
Of those to the coast.
The defenses' first witness announced
as his belief that the companies on the
interior would be enforced to aid in build
ing up the interior of the country or
eventually confine themselves to the
cheaper and larger transcontinental haul
IN competition with the vv~A---carriers.
Non-observance Of the fourth section Of
the interstate commerce law and its null
over as a well-established fact, that il
was a dead letter on the statute books,
and that the long and short haul regula-
ton was not intended to be enforced by
the railroad companies.
AT the opening of the morning session,
General ]. Kindei took the stand to con-
tinue his testimony bearing on the dis
1alS employed in the manufacture of
mattresses and the manufactured articles
themselves. He said that railroad Off
Gals had suggested to him that he ship
in his material in mattress coverings, and
TO secure the lower rate, but this he had
refused to do as illegal. and at the same
the Inconsistencies of the rates in charg-
ing more for hauling goods down hill
from Denver to San Francisco than they
DO SGu for hauling the same goods up
ton sheets. he showed that
Kansas City manufacturers can shin
to Utah for less rates than Denver
makers Notwithstanding the Denver man
has already paid freight toll on the ma, ma
terial from Kansas City to Denver. Brass
beds, he said, he could ship from Eng
land to Denver for less freight than he
NJ; A. Low, attorney for the Rock Is
land, cross questioned Mr.. kindel. He
asked what he purpoSed doing if a lower
rate was given him on articles he manu-
featured.
Mr.. Kindel replied that he was selling
goods in California in competition with
New York in spite of a s. rate from
that he expected under the incentive
Of the lower rate to increase his business
The Santa Fe had made rate to south
ern California points reached by its own
lines of 81 per 100 pounds, the trans
continental tariff, and the Denver paper
and cotton mills had the same rate to
San Francisco; but over the connecting
lines his goods TO San Francisco were
still classified at So.
George H. kaub, representing the Gang
brewery, testified that the rate from Mil
waukee on beer in carload lots to Denver
is 81 cents for a haul of LOO miles; from
Milwaukee TO Utah points, 1,76S miles,
$1.10, and from Denver to the same, 81.
the roads hauling beer for 1000 miles for
to Denver over a number of different
roads, while the market might we'll be
entirely supplied from Denver and would
be but for the roads making rates TO get
that extra 10 cents.
From Denver to the coast, the pub
lished rate, Mr.. kaub said, is $780, while
from Milwaukee to San Francisco the
rate is 81. He would say, in justice to
the railroads, however, that the local
agent of the Santa Fe told him that if
he wanted a special rate of 81 it would
probably be made him.
J. c. Underhill, manufacturer of over
ais said that California makers get
denims from Chicago at 81, and ship the
manufactured goods to Lleadyille for
s226; he must pay S226 for the denims
from Boston and 81 to Leadville, so that
the California maker hauls the cloth
across the continent and one-fourth the
way back for &c cents a hundred pounds
less than he can get them transported
one-half the distance. He needed a less
rate on the raw material than is given
ON the manufactured article to enable
him to fully compete for trade.