The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-22
INJUNCTION ASKED.
Shippers Demand That AttOr-
ney General Take Steps to
Prevent Freight
Advances.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-The hearing
before the Interstate commerce com
mission, called on account of the com
plants made by shippers against the
proposed new classification Of freight
by railroads operating under the ON
ciaI classification" was resumed today.
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 to the new
classification. He reiterated Mr.. Gill $
statement of yesterday that the new
classification was adopted because the
railroads absolutely could not make
revenues. On many carloads no ad-
vance it was felt by the committee,
could be made, but on short hauIS, the
less than car load lots could afford to
nav added rates This arrangement
would enable shippers to take adVant-
age of carload rates to a general distri-
buting point, the railroad there getting
some advantage from added rates on
the short hauls from distributing
points. The classification committee
did not consider the market prices of
articles on which the classification was
raised. Mr.. HarriOtt said the cOntrOll-
ing reason in raising the classification
was the evident necessity for more rev.
enue and this was deemed the best way
to get it. So far as was practicable the
committee and the railroads were ready
and anxious to remedy so far as pos
sible any injustices that might exist in
necessary for the sixteen odd roads US
ing the official classification, to follow
not only the classification but also to
maintain existing commodity rates in
order to obtain additional revenues
Inquiries developed the admission by
Mr.. Harriott that on the average, mis-
cellaneOus cars carrying articles pay
ing less than carload rate were being
more heavily loaded now than before
and therefore the earnings on that class
OF traffic was greater
1t developed at this point that a
meeting of the shippers and those rep
reSenting their interest, former attOr-
ney general of Ohio, r. NJ. MOnnett, J..
H. BrOmweu and Mr.. Mortimer Mat
thews of Cincinnati. had been appoint
ed to present to the committee the &C
ton of such railroads. Mr.. Monnett
presented a set OF resolutions adopted
by the commercial interests directing
attention to the testimony adduced at
the present hearing, showing it was
maintained, Determinations by the rail-
roads against the small shippers in IA
vor of the large shippers and to the
fact that the railroads had declined to
extend the time for the new claSSifica-
ton to go into effect. These resolutions
We're supplemented by a petition by a
large majority of the shippers in at
tendance upon the hearing asking that
the committee lay the testimony before
the attorney general of the United
States, with a view of having him
bring action against the railroads to
prevent the new classification from be-
coming effective on January 1, 1900.
The petition of the shippers follows:
The undersigned shippers and rep
resentatives of various shipping inter
ests would respectfully petition your
honorable body, in view of the teSti-
mony disclosed at the session held in
this city on December q. in the matter
of changes in freight classification and
advances in freight rates by carriers
using the official classification to request
that such testimony be laid before his
honor, the attorney general OF the Uni
ted States for the purpose of inform
ing him of the necessity of taking ac-
ton by injunction. or otherwise in the
premises.
In view of the principles laid down
in Thurber vs.. Railroad company
March 81. 1890, and in view of the de-
cision Of the supreme court Of the Uni