Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-22
MARKET PRICES
NOT CONSIDERED
Railway Companies Figure Upon
Their Own Exchequers Only,
LONG HAUL IS LEFT ALONE.
hut In Rehabilitation or Freights
In Short Hauls aud small Lots
Rates Go skyward.

The hearing before the interstate
commerce commission, called on ac-
count Of complaints made by shippers
against the proposed new classification
OF freight by railroads operating un-
der the official classification, was re-
sumed today at Washington, d. c.
BY agreement Mr. Frank Harriott
general traffic manager Of the Erie
railroad and a member Of the Official
classification committee, went on the
witness stand to testify as 10 the new
classification. He reiterated Mr.. GIFTS
statemen; OF yesterday that the new
classification was adopted because the
railroads absolutely needed the In
creased revenues. On many carload
rates. II was felt by the committee, no
advance could be made. but II was lett
that on short hauls, less than carload
loIs, could afford TO pay added rates.
The ARRANGEMENT would enable snip
pars 10 take advantage OF carload rdies
to general distribution point, the lai-
roads there getting some ADVANTAGE
from added rates on the short hddis
from distributing points. The classlh-
ca ton committee did not consider the
mcrket prices Of articles on which the
Classification was raised. Mr.. Har-
rlott said the controlling reasons IN
raising the classification was the evil
dent necessity for more revenue, ana
this was deemed the best way TO get II.
So far as was practicable, the commit
tee and the railroads were ANXIOUS 20
remedy, so far as possible, any m
Justice that might result In the classih-
cation. He said 1t would be necessary
for the sixty odd roads using the OF cial
classification TO follow not only the
classification but also to MAINTAIN eN-
istlng commodity rates in order 10 Cd
tain revenues.
q 81 ,ulric, developed the admlssion by
Mr. Harriott that on the average, mis-
ceilantnus FRS carrying articles pay
inc less than carload rates were beng
mere heavily loaded now han hereto
fo.e. airi therefore the earnings on
th., clAss OF traffic were greater
Ii developed at this point that at q
meeting Of the shippers and those rep
resenting their interests, former Az
torney General Of Ohio Monnett Hon
J. II Bromwel and MIR, Mortimer Mat
thews OF Cincinnati, had been appoint
ed to present TO the commission the
action Of shippers.
Mr.. Monnett presented O resolution
adopted By the commercial interests
directing attention TO the testimony
adduced at the present hearing showing
Il was alleged determinations against
the small shippers in favor Of the large
shipper and the fact that railroads had
declined to extend the time for the new
classification to go into effect.
These resolutions were supplemented
by a petition by large majority OF the
shippers In attendance upon the near
ing asking that the commission lay the
testimony before the attorney general
Of the United states with view to
have him bring action against the rail-
roads TO prevent the new classification
from becoming effective on January ],
1900
The petition follows
",rbe undersigned shippers and repre-
sentatives OF various shipping interests
would respectfully, and respectively
petition your honorable body in view
of the testimony disclosed al the ses-
sion held in this city on Dec. q in the
matter Of changes in freight classical
ton and advances in freight rates by
carriers using the official classification,
that such testimony be laid before his
honor, the attorney general Of the
United States. for the purpose OF In
forming him Of the necessity 81 taking
action by Injunction or otherwise in the
premises.
I'm view Of the principles laid down
in Thurber Railroad Company, March
q, 1890. and in view Of the decision OF
the Supreme court Of the United States
In the Trans Missouri case and the de-
cision in the Joint Traffic Association
case, we think the evidence will war
rant such proceedings as the action Of
said official classification committee Is
clearly In violation OF the federal stat
ute known as the Sherman Antitrust
Act.
For some time the attorneys OF the
shippers argued in favor OF The COM
mission taking the suggested action,
Chairman Knapp Of the commission
maintaining that the commission had
no more authority TO make recon-
mendations TO the attorney gener'
al, than representatives OF the shippers.
The commission had no objection to
furnishing to the attorney general at
the suggestion Of the shippers a trans
cript OF the evidence adduoed at the
hearing. together with the suggestion
OF the shipper for action under the
antitrust law.
The attorneys for the shippers Of
fered 10 furnish testimony showing
that the operation Of the new classih-
cation would be In restraint Of trade
and 10 that extent a violation OF ex-
listing law.
IL was determined finally that the
SINNERS would offer some testimony.
b. w. Brown, representing Schoheld.
schumer & Teagle OF Cleveland, o..
was sworn. He said the new classif-
cation on petroleum would be abso-
lutely ruinous to small shippers.
on less than carload lots, the In
crtase above the rates on carload lots
war in some instances as much as
253 per cent, and In no case was IL less
than IS per cent. MIR. Brown said a. :
small shippers of oil could not success
fully compete with the Standard OIL
company because the rates given the
Standard oil company on carload lots
were so much less than the small
shippers could get on less-than-carload
lots that the latter practically were
shut out OF much territory.
Mr.. G. II. DeGolyer. carriage man
ufacturer OF Cincinnati, testified that
the proposed increase In the classical
ton OF vehicles would limit Ohio and
Mississippi valley carriage manufac-
turers TO territory adjacent TO their
factories and that II would be destruc-
tive OF competition throughout the
country. This closed the testimony |
and the hearing was adjourned.
Northern Pacific Shortening.