Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-13
MISSOURI RATE LAW UP
Burlington ALLEGES that New Tariffs Are
Unprsftabls TO Railroads,
FIGURES TAKEN FROM conPANTs BOOKS
Rates are HiEher Than In Illinois
and lows, and Carvings are
Higher Than in
other states.

KANSAS CITY, Nov. Pc. NJ. Fisher,
expert accountant. OF ST. Paul. Mimi, EN-
ployed by the state OF Missouri to examine
the books of tho Chicago, Burlington Il
Quincy railway, before r. l.. Schoheld,
special master in ohancery, who In the
federal court Is hearing testimony as to
whether or not the freight rates fixed by
the maximum freight rate law passed by
the last legislature in Missouri per mile
we're 90 per cent greater than in any other
state IN which the Burlington operates. and
the witness declared that the Burlington
freight rates were from . TO 80 per cent
higher in Missouri than in any state east
OF the Missouri river Fisher had statistics
to prove his assertions.
Fisher went to Chicago on June 16 Of
this year and began an examination Of the
Burlington books and he has worked UNI
ceasingly since that time He is still en-
ployed in inspecting the waybills turned in
at the auditors Office.
High Earnings in Missouri.
"The method OF keeping accounts adopted
by the Burlington is not fair In showing
the apportionment in Missouri earnings"
Fisher testified. Rates here are from 50
to IS per cent higher than in Iowa or
Illinois, and the earnings are 30 per cent
greater. Two reasons may be assigned for
this First, the higher rates; second, the
density of population and traffic."
What were the net earnings per mile
on the entire system in 19Oi?'' asked At
torney General Hadley.
They were S2347."
What were the earnings in Missouri
"They were $40"
What were the net earnings per mile on
the entire system in 1862
"They were S2,5S4.5l."
I'm Missouri
"rhey were "a, SAL"
/ Fisher will be cross-examined by the at
torneys for the road tomorrow.
Contention of Railroad.
/ The Burlington, contendinG that 1t cannot
adhere to the rates on furniture live stock,
agricultural implements and lumber and
make a profit secured tenn AIRY injunc-
ton, six months ago, restraining the state
officials from enforcing the law. Two weeks
were spent hearing evidence in the case
] in Chicago recently, when Attorney General
I Hadley attempted to show that the rate
/ fixed by law is reasonable.
/ c. I. Sturgis of Chicago, general auditor
of the Burlington system, testified as TO the
cost and maintenance of the system and
gave figures to show that II the maximum
freight law had been enforced against his
road that It would have greatly cut its
] earnings.
E. NJ. Fisher of st. Paul, an expert ac-
countant, who aided United states Senator
LaFollette Of Wisconsin in the latter''
railway investigation, was called TO testify
in the afternoon.
Mr.. Sturgis declared that taking into con
sideration the cost Of constructing the rail
way. the cost of maintenance and equip
ment, the freight rates were in general low
and in some cases where they were affected
by the Missouri maximum rate law, almos
prohibltive. Mr.. sturgis estimated that thC
decrease which would have been occasionet
had the rate law been in effect in 1904 and
1905 would have been more than S250,0OO,