Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-02
Important Hearing Before In
terstate Commerce Represen-
tatiye at Mason City
WANT NEW CLASSIFICATION
Marshall Oil Company, Western Gro
Ger Company and National Hay AS
ISOLATION Fighting for Iowa Mime
sofa -Dakota Rates = Lines Mako
Vigorous Resistance.
Special to Times Republican.


Mason City, July 2.-Luther M. Wal
ter, of Washington, special represen-
tatiye of the interstate commerce com :
mission. held q special session in this
city today, in which hearing was
given the representatives of the Great
Western. Northwestern and Milwaukee
railroads and the Marshall Oil Com
pany Of Marshalltown, and the Ma
tional Hay association. The railroads
were represented by a galaxy of their
best legal talent, and for the Grea.
Western A. c. Briggs, of St. Paul, their
general attorney, and Assistant Gem
eral Freight Agent T.. e. Watson were
present. The Northwestern was rep
resented by S. A. Lynde, of Chicago,
general attorney, and Frank p. Ely
man, the general freight agent Will
lam Ellis, the general attorney for the
Milwaukee, and Assistant General
Freight Agent E. c. Nettels Of Chicago
represented the road
The Marshall Oil Company was rep
resented by Attorney r. +. Lockwood
of Chicago. James Manahan of ST.
Paul, the legal representative of the
hay association, and w. c. Staley, rep
resenting the Western Grocer Com
pany, of Chicago, We're here.
The Marshall Oil Company is seek
ing to have the same interstate CLASH
fication made as is now made by the
state of Iowa and followed by the Min
nesota and North and, South Dakota
railroad commissions. In Iowa the state
commission changed oil shipments
from third class to fourth class, which
of course gives cheaper rate, and Of
course the other states followed.
The railroads made the classification
without contest, as the reductions con-
fined to state shipments, were not con-
sidered sweeping. But they are re-
sisting the present interstate applica-
ton because it means change of clas-
and therefore change Of
rate in all the states west of the Mis-
sissippi river, and this they say is too
sweeping and will entail too much of
cut TO be reasonable Mr.. Lockwood,
the oil company's attorney, argued that
the very fact that the state commission
having investigated the matter and
made the reductions, is prima facia
evidence that the rate is reasonable,
and therefore the interstate commits
sion should order the same class or
rate on interstate business.
The railroad attorneys argued on the
other hand, and showed by their wit
nesses, that the reduction of the rate
would be unjust because of the fact
that oil cannot be shipped in cars with
other goods, as it always entails
damage to the goods in the car and
that the railroads are obliged to use
separate cars, which many times is
only the fraction of car load and for
this reason it ought not to be figured
in comparison with other kinds OIL
freight.
Mr.. Nettels for the Milwaukee testi-
fed that the real fight made by the
Marshall Oil Company was to get a
ower rate, that they might compete
with the Standard Oil, who get car load
rates on all shipments as they dis
tribute their oil from centers to a
arge district by wagon. Both Mr.. Net
tells and Mr.. Watson the latter for the
Great Western, made the same state
ments and both testified that the rate
was unfair. Mr.. Walter took each of
the witness in hand at this point in
their testimony asking what difference
IN per cent of earnings was lost to
The railroads by the reduction from a
.hird to a fourth class rate, but neither
could answer.
The hay association want a less
minimum for a car load of hay. They
want it reduced from 10000 to 10000
FOR car load. At present the ship
oers must pay for 10000 pounds of hay
n a car whether they have that
amount or not. If they are fortunate
enough in getting furniture car they
IAN get more than the minimum
amount in Their argument was not to
Day freight on what they do not ship.
The railroad attorneys attempted to
show that if the hay were properly
oaled there would be no trouble in get
ing the minimum weight in the car.
He also tried to show the hay rate was
not productive one.
TLEEr nE VIII IN MvcrEov