The record-union., 1899-11-17
The Interstate Commerce Commission Hear
ings viii ADJOURN To-Day.
No New Phase in the Controversy
Developed at Yesterdays Ses-
sion, All the Witnesses Testi-
flying to Substantially the Same
Facts Previously Brought Out.

Commerce Commission, which has been
holding an inquiry into Pacific Coast
rates will adjourn tomorrow AFTERNOON.
Only one witness remains to be exam
ined The hearing to-day developed no
new phase of the controversy Inc VII
nesses all testified 60 substantially the
same facts that were given by rreceo-
ing witnesses, and the evidence, was,
therefore, in a measure merely cuniu-
lative.
Chairman Knapp and Mr.. Clements
were the only members of the c9lnmis-
sion present at the hearing OF testimony
in the complaint of the ST. Louis Busl-
ness Mems League against the racine
Coast railroads to-day. Messrs. Prou'y'
Yoemens and Fifer were absent on
other business.
Sander Norwell, Third Vice President
of the Simmons Hardware Company OF
ST. Louis, testified that the tariff Of
June %, 1898, had clearly affected the
business of his firm with California re-
tailers. After the adoption of that
schedule the volume of trade With the
entire Pacific Coast was curtailed. mat
the tariff of 1898 caused this falling Gil
was shown he said, by the fact that
since May, 1899, when the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific abro-
gated the tariff and lessened the differ.
ence between carload and less than car.
load rates, business in Washington and
Oregon had increased and reached It's
original level while that in California
had steadily refrigerated. The firm, he
said, was obliged to compete not only
with the natural advantages Of the Cal
ifornia jobbers, but also with the aru-
fetal commercial advantages accorded
them by the railroads in adopting the
tariff of 1893
The firm could only do business in
California by making freight allowances
to its customers This allowance, he
said amounted to an average OF oO
cents on each 100 pounds of freight
shipped. This, he contended was Clear
ly loss of profit, due to diScrlmlna-
ton. He exhibited charts and tables,
showing the fluctuations of the firms
sales in California business during the
last three years. They indicate an in
crease in sales and decrease in the
percentage of profit.
W. F. Herrin, attorney for the South
ern Pacific, in cross examination at
tempted to show that the railroad rates
were not responsible for fluctuations in
the volume of business transacted in
California during the LAST eighteen
months, since the rates had remained
the same during that period.
Perhaps it would make that chart
more interesting" was Mr.. Norvell's
answer, if we would add another line
showing what our profits would have
been had the former rates obtained. l
am complaining of our profits there,
not of our volume of business there"
but we cannot regulate freight rates
to yield profits for Others" retorted
Mr.. Herrin.
Conrad Gunon traffic manager of the
Paddock-Hawley Iron Company of st.
Louis, followed Mr. Norvell. He made
the point that Pueblo has better rate
to Pacific Coast points than st. Louis
enjoys 1.-THE carload rate from Pueblo
to San Francisco is SO cents per cwt.,
said he. while the carload rate from
St Louis to San Francisco is 10 cents
per cwt. Certainly if Pueblo has bet
ter rate than ST. Louis, then st. Louis
ought to have a better rate than Pitts
burg, but she has not.'
Chairman Knapp introduced a tele-
gram from w. A. Hoover, President of
the Denver Freight Bureau, stating
that Denver jobbers entered their pro-
test against any change in the present
classification between carload and less
than carload rates.
Attorney Pillsbury, representing the
jobbers of the Pacific Coast, introduced
a telegram from Barrett Hicks & Co.
of San Francisco. saying that their tel
egram of recent date to use every eff
fort to have less than carload rates
reduced" was sent under misappre-
pension. and was withdrawn.
N. L. Nelson, President of the Nelson
Manufacturing Company of ST. Louis,
was the last witness summoned by the
compliments. Asked to describe the
effect of the tariff of June %, 1898,
upon his California business, he said
he went to that State and found out
that there We're two clear alternatives
for him-either retire from the field or
ship in carload lots. If he shipped
goods in less than carload lots his whole
profit would be more than absorbed in
the differential
Asked If he could serve all of his ter
ritory except the Pacific Coast by ship
ping in less than carload lots, he re-
piled in the affirmative.
A. T. B. Jackson, representing a line
of steamships which phys between NeS
York and San Francisco, via the Horn,
was called to the stand for the defense.
His testimony related entirely to the
question of competition between the
railroads and sea routes for traffic to
the Pacific Coast, and the effect this
competition had in making the rates on
all transcontinenta1 rail lines.
The commission then adjourned until
tomorrow.