The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-27

President A. B. sStickney Of the Chi
cago Great Western. railway was the
only witness yesterday afternoon before
the state railroad commission In its
hearing on merchandise rates. His d.
rect testimony Wasa carefully prepared
a BRET giving detailed figures on d the
words in length. q +ss
Mr. Stickney insisted that the rates
proposed by the commission were TOO
low to cover operating expenses and
leave sufficient margin for fixed
charges. He declared that all calcu-
| lations as to terminal charges were too
low, and first-class rate should start
| with q terminal charge OF 1863 cents a
| hundred, while the commission goes on
| basis Of l1.6 cents. The commission 8
| he said. - !eiTlg :
The Iowa and Illinois commission
! ers tariffs were attacked by Mr.. Stick,
ney Iowa s tariff, he said, violated
nearly every principle, and was maze
under the dictation of governor, VINO
was "daft on the subject Of railroads;
| It was made on the theory that the
roads did not cost over $4,000 mile,
and the rates were contrlved SO the
providing interstate rates were on the
same basis. The Iowa schedule was
tricky, because it made low rates on
short distances, which covered about
all the state business, and increased
them sharply over 100 miles, on hauls
which are seldom made within the state,
"What's the Use7'
The Illinois commissioners, accord
ing to Mr.. Stickney, were lnfected Will
the "parabolic curve maggots," am
their schedule was badly constructed
Last year the roads were cited to dc
fend a 20 per cent reduction. After
! two or three days caring the com
missioners said, in effset, that it was M
use talking longer, as the order MAJ
been made before the hearing com
menced. Mr.. Stickney continued:
1t is such arbitrary and star chamber &C
lions this on the part of state commissions
making orders, reducing annual revenues hun
J dreds of thousands of dollars, equivalent to
!; destruction Of millions Of dollars Of rallwa
: capital, by stroke Of the pen. with slight, !
; any, consideration. as tho the throwing away 0
; such, vast revenues and capital was matte
Of no more Importance than the casting OF
; of wornout garment-which makes the oppc
{ sition against the passage OF the rate bll nov
pending in congress, strenuous.
The law courts never act in matters. involy
! ing the smallest amount, with such slight cor
sideration In suit involving $780, or eve
less, they patiently hear all the relevant ter
timony which either party cares to produce
! and then give the testimony due considerable
tefore rendering judgment.
! Mr. Stickney also criticized the ir
: sterstate commerce commission for civ
!. ing too brief consideration to the live
!: stock case, and said that this matter
$ ton of commissions to the evidence ha
!: led railroad officials &, to say, whe
q served with complaint, "What's tn
1 use?' and accounted for SO many rt
d auctions being allowed to 20 by d.
) fault, tho known to be unjust. -.
s = The proposed Schedule.
. have prepared diagram Of the COMM
5 sioners rates. extended. to distance of 200
/. miles, whicl, would shi6re thsA cover: the di
s lance between ST. Paul and the Pacific coas
the distance from ST.. Paul. to- Seattle. or Tacon
g being about 1000 miles
) Now, the rates which are now, in e4isten
h on the Great Northern and Northern &Paci
& roads from st. Paul to Seattle and Tacon
are as fO1lOWs