East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-06-05

With an evening session that lasted
until about 10 o'clock the railroad
commission finished its hearing in
this city yesterday. II was then de-
cided to hold another session in Port
land shortly for the purpose of CIV
ing the railroad people an opportu-
nifty to produce testimony In answer
to complaints made here yesterday.
During the latter part OF the after
noon yesterday T. T. Geer was on the
stand, while at the evening session
Judge Lowell and District Attorney
Phelps were themselves sworn as
witnesses and made extended state
ments to the commission. Others
called during the afternoon were DR..
NJ. $. Kern, John HALEY, Edgar
Averill and Roland Oliver.
hearing yesterday. the afternoon and
evening sessions were largely infor-
NAL. Questions were freely asked
and answered by participants upon
both sides. General Manager o'Brien
conducted the case fer the railroad
company. while Mr.. Phelps question
ed for the complainants.
In his statement TO the commits
sion, Mr.. Geer declared that the peo-
pie OF eastern Oregon were forced to
take the ''leavings OF transcontinen-
tai trip in order 10 make a journey of
23l miles and complained that an
average of four hours was lost in
making an eight-hour trip through
the delay OF the westbound trains.
While a loss of that time was not
great upon a trip across the conti-
nent, yet he held II was too great an
affliction upon those desiring to make
the run from here to Portland.
In his statement made at the eve
ming session District Attorney Phelps
reviewed the grievances of the people
of the city and tributary country and
gave personal testimony regarding in
conveniences caused by relayed trains
and poor service.
Conductor Glendenning was placed
on the stand following Mr. Phelps
and testified in behalf OF the COM
pany. The trend of his testimony
was that the roads patronage had in
creased but little during the past six
or eight years.
Following the session last night
Commissioner Oswald West took the
westbound train for Portland, while |
Messrs. Campbell and Aitchison re-
NAMED here until today, when they
departed On No. l. The members Of |
General Manager O'Brien's party al !
50 returned to Portland last night.
One of the ablest statements made |
before the commission yesterday was |
that by Judge S. A. Lowell, who came |
on In the evening. In a cool, unim- |
passioned but convincing manner he |
told Of the present poor service now
given ny the o. r. & N. company
and urged the need of local train |
from here to Portland.
VIII Railroad Resist?
Among local men who have fol-
lowed the proceedings before the
there is general belief
that the prayer of the citizens for
better service will be granted and a
special train ordered. This morning
Judge Lowell stated his belief that a
fore the commission, and that In his
Judgment the only possible objection
that can be offered by the company
Is that the special train would not
result in profit to the road, This he
ioes not regard as valid excuse.
That the railroad may resist tho
order of the commission, should II be
made, is indicated by something con-
tained in their answer filed yester-
day. 1t was intimated therein that
he consttutionality OF the law would
be brought into question. But should
they seek to defeat the law in the
courts they will have to comply with
The orders of the commission in the
meantime, as it is specified in the
aw that such orders shall be COM
Piled with inside of 20 days.
In view of the care with which the
law was drawn and the fact
hat 1t has been maintained in other
states, friends OF the measure believe
t Will be uniformly upheld by the
'ourts should It be tested.