Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-05
DENURRACE FIGHT STILL ON
Railroads Admit Methods Of Enforcing
Few Law Are Illegal
SHIPPERS PROTEST MOSTLY ON THIS
MeetinE Tuesday Js Not Final and An
other session Ss Arranged Tor
. next Monday After
noon.

No definite decision was reached as to
the adjustment of the differences in the
demurraRe charges at the meeting held
Tuesday morning IN parlor b Of the Pax
ton hotel between the committee Of seven
appointed by the heavy shippers and the
executive committee OF the railroads. The
only tangible result of the meeting was an
agreement 20 meet at D. m. next Monday,
whsn new rules to govern the Western
Car Service association will be considered
The principal bone of contention be-
tween the shippers and the railroads Is
the taking away OF the five-day allowance
for unloading coal The rules of the as
sociation are practically the same since
thu new rate law went into effect as they
were before, but under the old rules three
extra days were given for unloading coal
Under the new rules no class distinction
is made and every car has to be unloaded
in forty-eight hours or pay demurrage.
The meeting Tuesday was presided over
by Cari A. Wright, attorney for the North
western. Superintendent Of Transportation
McNaughton OF the Cudahy Packing COM
pany was chairman OF the shippers com
mittee, and the railroad men were repre-
sentsd by officials OF the operating and car
service departments.
Discussion Pro and Con.
Mr.. McNsughton stated clearly the COM
plants of the shippers and the questions
were discussed pro and con 1t developed
that Omaha is not alone in this fight. as
the railroads are being hammered in Kan
sas City and st. Joseph the same as they
are in Omaha. One railroad, the Missouri
Pacific. has already withdrawn from its
position in Kansas City and issued orders
for the old rules to prevail until some
further decision is reached.
The extra days on coal was not the only
complaint. the shippers protest not
against demurrase. but against the manner
in which the demurrage law was enforced.
The railroad men practically admitted that
the present methods of enforcing the de-
murrage law were not legal and readily
consented to have the executive committee
of the railroads meet with the committee
of the shippers next Monday to go over the
rules and eliminate the Objectionable
features
The shippers did not ask the present
rules to be set aside between now and next
Monday. but It is understood the railroads
will not insist upon a rigid enforcement of
the rules in the meanwhile.
Burlington Has n Surplus.
The annual report OF the Burlington
shows a real surplus OF 10 per cent on
common STOCK, out also SHOWS an open
account for construction The most notable
feature of the report is 1t shows an in
crease of $S500,Oo0 in the operating ex-
penses and taxes and an increase of 81, 450, 900
in gross. The large increase in expenses
is said to be due to direct appropriations
for maintenance of property and the equip
ment.
The construction account OF the Burling-
ton Is effectuslly concealed in the annual
report just published. The Burlington in
1906 appropriated from income over IS. 900 900
beyond adequate maintenance. The income
of the Burlington railroad is given at HS,s
0S3,622 taxes. s201S,4s4; interest on bonds,
s7,353.951; sinking fund, s7H, 1853; other
charges, s23o. ls4: total charges, s1o,324 ss4;
balance. s,75S7ss.
The reports for the fiscal year ending
June 30 of the Burlington railway, the
parent company. show gross earnings to be
s7s.413sSe; operating expenses, s5o,66s 1851; net
earnings. s2275s.225; other income, $40 ss2;
total income, $2S.16ssO7.
Private Car Question.
A meeting will be held In st. Paul
Wednesday of the transportation depart
ment of the transcontinental lines, tc
consider the private car question Dave
Lincoln, car service agent of the Union
Pacific, will represent that road and AS
sistant Superintendent of Transportation
Dickinson of the Burlington will also at
tend. With the report of the order given
by the Union Pacific for 5000 refrigerator
cars to replace those of the private car
4. a.. 4.