Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-23

terminals.
Both in Chicago and Minneapolis positive
proof was given that the tense situation
Is due to faulty management as we'll as
Inadequate equipment. car n clearing clearing
credit weekly for their cars and under
which cars might be used to best advan-
tage, Is q good suggestion offered by MT
OF Chicago, an authority on rail
way matters. He cites the system now
by the Southern Pacific. one OF the
roads represented before the commission.
! don't care 10 discuss a remedy at pres
ent or to go into the matter further. A
report will soon be submitted to the COM
remedy resting within the power OF the
commission. I think that IS beyond ques-
ton. II rests with the railroads themselves
and N they cannot successfully cope with
the issue then law should be made to
cover such cases.
New Ruling on Convention Rates.
Complaint has been made to the Inter
state Commerce commission that I'm many
instances persons desiring to attend con-
ventions on a particular day are prevented
from promptly returning to their homes
because the minimum number of round
trip tickets required has not been presented
for valuation. The commission expresses
the opinion that it would not be unlawful
or improper for carriers TO accept a salts
factory guarantee or bond of an associa-
ton or society for which the round trip
tickets would be validated or the difference
between the reduced rate and the full rate
paid by the association or society, thus
permitting the prompt valuation Of tickets
and reduced return round trip rate, II
being understood that IL the specified num-
Der of tickets should not be validated the
society will be required to pay the differ
ence agreed upon"
The commission also announces an eN-
tension Of time in the application Of the
rule governing through rates which exceed
the sum OF locals The commission had
previously ruled that carriers should make
use of the rule until December 81, 1906 but
carriers now may make use of the rule
until further notice"
VIII Ask Receiver for Railroads.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec 22-The Mississippi
Valley Lumberman. prominent organ OF
the western lumber trade, announced today
that the lumber and shingle manufacturers
Of the Pacific coast have already under
way steps looking to an application for re-
ceivers for certain railroads 1t has adj
United that the properties are perfectly
solvent but the attack IL to be made on
the ground that the roads have forfeited
their charters through inefficient service.
The interests back of the movement have
! prepared data showing delay in transit and
losses to shippers through failure to re-
ceive cars.
In view OF the fact that the reciprocal
demurrage convention, called by lumbermen
| for January 4 at Chicago, will represent
conflicting interests Alderman Piatt B.
Walker, managing editor Of the Mississippi
Valley Lumbermsn, will bring the matter
UP before the convention Of the Northern
| Pine Manufacturers association, TO be held
| in Minneapolis the last week in January
This means that there will be an exhaustive
hearing on reciprocal demurrage here be-
fore the Chicago hearing
shippers Are Badly Damaged.
! ST. LOUIS, Dec. 22.-CommissioneI
Prouty member Of the interstate Commerct
commission, who has been conducting ar
investigation In st. Louis and Kansas City
into the freight car shortage situation
passed through here today en- route from
Kansas City 20 Washington. He stated
that the commission will meet within thC
next few days at Washington and recon
mend to congress some legislation for this
relief OF the shippers who have been suffer
ing from the car shortage conditions.
1.-THE damage to grain and cattle ship
pers in the west and south, especially IL
ITexas and Oklahoma, cannot be estimated,
he said. Active and stringent methods
will have 10 be adopted at once to relieve
the situation"
Railroads Deny Charge.
TOPEKA, Kan, Dec. 22.-Statements o
alleged freight congestion at and neal
Kansas City, made at the recent car short
age hearing in that city, were declared
here today, In statements made by ofiicial
Of the Union Pacific and Rock Island rail
roads, to be incorrect.
''The company has thirty-eight miles o
storage track at these points, which 4
enough TO handle $500 freight cars" az
serted Rock Island ofhcial
Roads Violate Charters.
GUTHRIE, Okl., Dec. 22-Attorney Gen
eral w. o. Cromwell. who was instructed
by Governor Frantz to investigate rail
road rates prevailing In Oklahoma, today
issued a lengthy statement In which h
charges the six important railroads operat
ing in the territory with violating theii
charters by demanding exorbitant rates
The lines against which the attorney gen
eral urges remedial legislation follow
Santa Fe, Rock Island. Frisco. Choctav
Iron and Coal Missouri, Kansas Texa.
and Fort Smith & Western.
The attorney general states that the com
panies have in effect an arbitrary rat'
affecting all producers and shippers within
q given distance OF the Texas line"
The report then reviews the Investigation
In detail.
Pullman Declared Common Carrier
AUSTIN Tex. Dec. 2.-The Texas Rail
road commission issued an order today
declaring Pullman cars common carrier
and providing that all such operated II
Texas shall be under their immediate and
constant supervision, providing a Teduc
ton In rates In the same OF 20 per cen
and specifying that the Pullman company
shall consult the commission regarding th'
number OF cars operated as 10 increas'
or decrease In number file It's operating
books, etc, and report all operations e
the commission the same as all railroads
are required to do.
Coal Cars Haided.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINI. Dec. Z.-Dis
patches from Berwick. N. D., say tina
citizens and farmers from the nearby coun
try yesterday helped themselves TO tea
tons Of coal from a train which was stalle'
| on the village siding. Bankers and busines