Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-22
Railway Companies Figure Upon
Their Own Exchequers Only.
LONG HAUL Is LEFT ALONE.
Hut In Decentralization OF Preishts
In short Haul. aud small Lots
Hate. Go skyward.

commerce tomtnlhhlon, talitu oh AZ
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 ut Washington, u. e.
by agreement MIR. Frank Harrlott. |
general traffic manager Of the Erie |
railroad and u member OF the o.ilcinl |
classification committee, went ON the |
witness stand to testify as to the new
classification. lie reiterated Mr.. GINS
statement 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 felt
that on short hauls. LEGS than carload
loty. could AFFORD to pay added rates.
The Arrangement would enable snip
para 10 take advantage OF carload RAGS
to a general distribution point, the fdil-
roads there getting some adNdntaTc
FROM added rates on the short haas
from distributing points. The classlh-
ca ton committee did not consider the
market pricea 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. and
this was deemed the best way TO set u.
30 lar US WAS NlN
tee and the railroads were ANXIOUS 20
remedy, 50 far as possible. any in-
Justice that might result In the cluHsin-
cn'ion. lie said IL would be necessary
FOR the sixty odd roads using the OF cihl
classification TO follow not only the
classification but also TO mointn'r eN-
lstlng commodity rates In order 10 Ob-
tain revenues.
81 ,ulr,C~ developed the ndmifsior by
Mr.. Harriott that on the average mis-
csilant"us Cfrs carrying articles ray
| Inc irss than carload rates were heing
mcr, heavily loaded now han h'tttu-
| foe. ainI there fore the earnings ON
| th.f ,less OF traffic were greater
II developed at this point that ut
meeting OF the shippers and those rep
| rcaenting their interests, former Az
torney General " Ohio Monnett non
J. II. Cromwell and Mr. Mortimer Mat
thewH, OF Cincinnati, had been appoints
| ed to present TO the commission the
action OF shippers.
MIR. Monnett presented resolution
| adopted BY the commercial interests
1 dffcctingi 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 eject.
These resolutions were supplemented
| by "A petition by n large majority OF the
shippers In attendance upon the hear
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 l.
! 1900.
The petition follows.
'"rhe undersigned shippers and repre-
sentatives OF various shipping Interests
! q
petition your honorable body In view
OF the testimony disclosed at the ses-
| sion held In this city on Dec. Fl In the
matter OF changes In freight classtca-
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.
"In 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 VIII war
rant such proceedings as the action OF
said official classification committee "
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-
mendatlons 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 trans
cript OF the evidence adduced at the
hearing. together with the suggestion
OF the shipper for action under the
antitrust law.
The attorneys for the shippers Of
fered to furnish testimony showing
that the operation OF the new clnsslh-
cation would be In restraint OF trade
and TO that extent violation OF ex-
listing law,
IL was determined finally that the
shippers would offer some testimony,
II, W. Brown, representing schoheld.
schumer x Teagle OF Cleveland, o..
was sworn. He said the new classifi-
cation on petroleum would be abso-
lutely ruinous to small shippers,
on less than carload lots, the In
CREASE above the rates on carload lots
was In some instances ns much rs
253 per cent, and In no case was Il less
than S. per cent. Mr.. 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.. q. II. DeGolyer, carriage man
ufacturer OF Cincinnati, testified that
, the proposed Increase In the classified
, ton OF vehicles would limit Ohio and
Mississippi valley carriage manufac-
turers 20 territory adjacent TO their
factories and that II would be destruc-
tive OF competition throughout the
country. This closed tho testimony
, and the hearing was adjourned.
Northern Pacific shortening.
A Lewiston. Idaho. dispatch TO III,
News" this afternoon says; The siS
: months truce between the Northern
, Pacific and the oregon Railway 4 Navi.
! cation company expires February 8
| Promptly on It's expiration the Northern