The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-08
HEARING WAS POSTPONED  Passed Over Until Thurs
 day. RAILROADS TO REBUTT Commerce Commission Con-
 tinueS the Case. Body Considering Uniform Btn of Lad- iag Put ofR Action on Protest of Shippers, Until Decem- ber 15.

Chicago. Dec. 7.-The hearing of the question of the railroads placing in operation a new uniform bill of lad ing" against which thousands of ship pers are complaining, has been con- tinued until next Thursday, December 15, at Washington by members of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The continuation was announced after three days of sensational testimony. tilts between counsel for the opposing sides and pertinent remarks by mem bers of the Committee. When the hearing Is resumed. It is said that the railroad companies, against which the investigation has been directed, wih adduce rebuttal testimony in an en- deavor to prsve that there, is no desire on their part to impose the so-called 20 per cent increase under the common law liability service of the common carrier.
 In the meantime, Commissioners Prouty and Fifer will remain in Chi- cago and hear testimony in connection with the protest of the Texas cattle rafsers against the rates charged them in shipping live stock. Commissioners Prouty heard testimony in this case to- day.
 Another development of the hearing today was that the lumber dealers within the official classification terri tory intend to carry the fight against higher rates for freightage much far ther than the scope of the investiga- ton now being considered by the Com mission. This announcement was made by George H. Holt, President of the American Lumber Company. repre- senting thousands of Iumbermen who ship lumber throughout the United States. H
 One of the most important points brought out at today's hearing was that if the 20 per cent increase the carrier assuming the responsibility for damages. was put In, force by the rail- roads, 1t would eventually fall back on the consumer to pay the increase, ne being called upon to pay an equal ad- vance far food or material pfsrchased This point was brought out by A. A. spragne of sprague. Warner and Com pany and other witnesses.
 Commissioner Clements, who acted as chairman of the Commission in the absence of Chairman Martin A. Knapp suggested to the attorneys present for the railroads that they make an ef- fort to have the railroad companies eliminate the enforcement of the 20 per cent proposition, and have the words Not Negotiable" left off the bills of lading until some future time be decided upon He argued that the hear ing may not be concluded on Decem- Der 15. and in this event. the railroads should waive the enforcement of these two propositions at least until the hear ing is concluded. The attorneys said that they would endeavor to bring about these conditions.
 Another important development was the introduction of several letters from railroads, particularly a communica- tion from the Illinois Central Railroad asserting that some of the transporta- ton companies absolutely refuse to use the proposed new uniform bill of lad ing. This proved a distinct surprise to attorneys for many other railroads rep. resented before the Commission.
 The Illinois Central letter was from w F. Keeper general traffic manager of the company. The letter read: '"rhe Illinois Central Railroad does not use the present bill of lading. nor will il use the proposed uniform bill to be nut in force January 1. We are in the official classification territory. but we will ignore this new bill"
 A letter from S. J. Cook, general freight agent of the Chicago and East ern Illinois Railroad stated that that road will not adopt the uniform ship ping rate. E. I. somers. freight manager of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad wrote that it will not be ob- ligatory for a shipper on his line to sign or in any way handle a bill, of ladinE bearing the words Not Negoti- ahIo"