Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28
INCREASE IN RATES
HEARING OF RAILWAY MEN CON-
cLUDED YESTERDAY.
Testimony Before the Interstate Com
merce Commission - Pleas
of the Managers.

The hearing in the matter Of the recent
advances in freight rates on grain. packing
house products, iron and other commodities
on the trunk lines. was concluded yester-
day by the interstate commerce commission.
Vice President Caldwell Of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western. Controller Buck
ley and General Traffic Manager Wight Of
the Baltimore and Ohio, Freight Traffic
Manager Powell Of the southern, General
Freight Agent Knight of the Wabash. Traf-
fc Manager Guilford Of the New York Cen
trail, George F. Brownell Of the Erie and f.
H. Janvier Of counsel for the Lehigh Valley
were witnesses. In general they contenoeo
that the increases were based on CONNER
cial and traffic conditions, present and pros
pective, but admitted that the earnings OF
their systems were ample.
Advance in Salaries.
In reply to questions by Assistant Secre-
tary Decker of the commission, MT. BUCK
ley said that the Baltimore and OHIO IS
contemplating an advance Of salaries OF
men getting 500 month or more. the in
crease in salaries OF men getting 500 ana
under which went into effect January l, ne
said, will make the cost of labor at the emo
of the present fiscal year $3,OOO,OOO higher
than the year before. He said that the ex-
tent of the increase now in contemplation
was not settled and added that despite the
large increases in the salary rolls ne dlo
not believe that the net expenses OF the
road would be any greater than before, pc
cause of increased trafhc, etc. Wnen aSheu
about coal expenses Mr.. Buckley salu tnat
both he and the general superintendent pc
lieyed that coal prices, which nave Deen
steadily increasing. would go higher. Mr.
Wight agreed with the commission tnat inc
cessation Of the rebate practace naa sateu
the railroads considerable money, Out oe.
off 70 n
saved.
What Railways Have Done.
Mr.. Caldwell reviewed the general atti-
tude Of traffic managers. He COMMENCED
that the railroads were the real basis or
commercial prosperity, and that without
them the Indian still would be roaming the
land. The railroads, he said, are entitled
to a fair return from their investment on
the basis Of service given and not accoro-
ing to what SO and SO says
rs what the courts and the legislatures
have said about reasonable rates an nom
sense, or Is it otherwise?" asked Comm1s-
sioner Prouty.
'.The Supreme Court decision" answered
Mr. Caldwell, referring to freight rate
decision. sis not, in my opinion, altogether
practical
railroad policy of avoiding the putting into
effect of depressing rates. He SAID this
policy had maintained commercial prospect
ty. "Your idea, them suggested Mr..
Prouty, sis that railroad men of the past
have been actuated by spirit OF patriot
ism?'
Actuated by Patriotism.
Mr.. Caldwell replied that that construc-
ton was wrong, but that many were &C
tuated by patriotism. The railroads, ne
said. are working for vast constituency,
the public investor. He said that great
deal Of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western stock was held by charitable or
ganizatlons, which led Commissioner Prouty
to ask IL he meant that when he GProutyl
had to pay a dollar more for coal delivered
at his house it was making contribution
to some charitable organization.
Numerous questions were asked with q
view to ascertaining what the railroads
Thought would be fair return on their in
yestrnents, but the commissioners could get
no specific answer.