Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-21
Predicts Reduction Of Passenger and
Freight Charges
HEARING BEGINS IN KANSAS CITY
Inquiry Into Car Shortage at Terminal at
Mouth Of Kaw.
CATTLE MEN MAKE MANY COMPLAINTS
Cars Are Eot Furnished Promptly and
Shipments Are Too Long En-
route 20 Notwithstanding
In Chicago.


Commerce commission car shortage hear
ing. begun in St. Louis. was taken ~ /
here this morning by Commissioner c. A
Prouty, aided by P. j. Far-sll, attorney Tor /
the commission.
It Is expected that the hsRring viii con-
tinue until Friday evening. when Commis-
Bioner Prouty and Attorney Farrell Will .
depart for Washington, D. c.
Il said when the bill was passed Mr.
Prouty said, that the hrst effect would
be to stop the rebates believe they have 1
been stopped"
Mr.. Prouty, recurring to the reduction OF
passenger rates, said there had been some !
reductions in freight rates, too, as well
as a few advances. while this amounts 70
q reduction IN the published tariff" he said.
-it amounts also to largely Increased reve-
nues for the railroads. It must be clear
that II they cut on all free transportation
the railroads can AFFORD to reduce passen-
ger and freight rates.
Mr. Proutv continued: The papers did
not say too much when they said the pass
ing OF the rate law marked the greatest
triumph OF American progress, the triumph
of the Roosevelt administration" He said
that whatever might be the fate Of the
law finally the people hereafter would con-
troll the business OF rate making, all ship
pers would pay the same rates, the square
deaf would apply, business would be on a
cash basis. men would pay for riding and
the railroads would pay for services in
their interest
Commissioner Prouty said today in an
interview in speaking Of the sO-called rate
law:
Il have no doubt that eventually all
states eass OF the Mississippi and north Of
the Ohio will be on a 2-cent basis, and by
eventually 1 mean. OF course, within rea-
= sonable time for such legislation to be
enEcted--if legislation shall be required
which I doubt All thess changes are and
will be due to the agitation for the pas
sage OF the rate law. No mar car tell what
the lnal effect of the rats law may be
until II has been worked out in the courts."
aaFeN Were Too High
Mr.. Prouty continued:
The most important effect OF the law
has been the reducing Of passenger rates
east OF Pittsburg and north OF the Ohio
river and in other communities. These re-
ductions have been widespread, not in the
west I admit, but east OF Pittsburg and
north OF the Ohio, people are riding for
cents a mile The commission has made
no orders and expressed no opinions to ac-
count for this change The carriers have
tactlly admitted that their rates were too
high"
Sir. Prouty said IL was too early to
estimate the real value OF the rate law.
Up to this time the railroads. he said, had
generally avinced a disposition not only to
obey the law, but TO accept any construc-
ton the commission put upon IL. The
commission has had no occasion, he said,
to issue any restraining orders, nor orders
that would cost the railroads much to
obey Till II does so Mr.. Prouty said Il
would be impossible TO say what they
will do.
THE Standard Of company" Mr.. Prouty
said, maintains a press bureau. buys
space IN newspapers OF a certain class.
publishes what II wants 70. and the reading
public, or part OF IL, believes what IT
reads. That stun should be signed
Standard OH company. But. notwith-
standing that press bureau, the Standard
OIL company Is at bay and the public ID
getting an accounting"
Rock island EmDIOys Involved.
At the hearing, ]. r. Crow, president OF
the J. r. Crow Coal and Mining company
OF Kansas City, the first witness. testified
in reply to a question that s. T. Fultor
OF Chicago, assistant 20 President WlncheI
OF the Rock Island railroad. holds $1,000
stock IN the Crow company. He admitted
that Mr.. Fulton had received this stocl
without paying FOR II. but said he Ob
tanned the stock before he became en-
ployed by the Rock Island.
NIurdO Mackenzie. presidsnt OF tn
American Live Stock association and man
ager OF he bIztador Land and Cattle com
pany, testified that he had received MANI
complaints from the southwest Of hnanoia
losses from shortage OF stock cars.
What is the reason for this shortagoF
asked Commissioner Prouty.
'~rhs railroads use the cattle cars 10
other commodities" replied Mr.. MacKen
ale.
Mr. MaeKsnEis said ne had known q
sheep belng held for six or seven week
waiting for cars. and finally they wer
driven from Alhuquerque 70 Kansas In oI
der 70 get them 20 market. The shipper
had experienced more or less delay ever
fall but this year the delay vas the mos
sewers yet. In one case Il took four day
to ship cattle from Texas to Kansas CItl
ana IN another instance cattle shipped froI
Texas 20 Kansas city had been sidetracke
in Oklahoma for tWenty-one hours.
HearinE "a Chicago.
CHICAGO. Dec 2o.-Commissioners Hal
Ian ana Lane OF the Interstate CONNER,
commission today continued the invsstigl
ton into the shortage of cars on raIlroa,
which was begun in Minneapolis two WeeI
ago.
The nrst witness wan W. b. Biddle VI,
pres5dent Of the Chicago. Rock Island
Pacino railroad He declared that cond
lions IN the south az the present time a
worse than those In the north This ",
caused, he said, by ths inadsquats terniu
rariitses IN the south. AZ Galveston
aid trafno on All q tha roads is eo
wested throughout tha year Il believe
said NTr. Biddle. that the railroads a
doinE everything IN their power 70 ralis
existing conditions. The fault lies main
With shiupers who. having lnadeoua
storage faeilitea "a their places OF busine.
use cars for the purpose In some cas
the cars stand for weeks az a time al 4
terminate because of tha failure of shi