Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-01
REVOLT ON NEW GRAIN RATE
Wabash and Great Western Nay Stand Out
Against Proportional.
NOTICE TO CONTRARY STILL LACKING
Grain Men Unable to Learn that
Either Road Has Filled new
Tariffs with Commerce
Commission.

Tariffs with Commerce
Commission.
II is possible the wabash and Chicago
Great Western will stand together against
the abolition of the proportional rate
through Omaha on grain originating in
Iowa. Local officials Of neither road have
received notice from their superiors of any
change In tariffs and they announce they
will continue to plan their business on the
old basis. The grain men are unable to
learn that either road has filed new tariffs
with the Interstate Commerce commission.
II they have not. these two roads, at least
cannot do away with the proportional
March /, as less than thirty days finter-
venes between the present and that date.
Secretary McVann of the Grain exchange
returned to Omaha Thursday after several
days absence and Immediately began to
look into the situation. He said he could
not tell what would be done until some off,
clal communication from the various roads
had been secured and a meeting had been
held of the transportation committee Of
the exchange.
II am just back and do not know what
is the position of the Wabash" said Mr..
McVann. II hope IL is true the road Is
not a party to the agreement. The Iowa
roads have been fighting us all along in
order to maui the grain to Chicago, and
this is just another of the many moves
they have made. II Il succeeds, the blow
will be a heavy one to Omaha"
Mr.. Mcvann says there is plenty Of
ground for taking the matter before the
Interstate Commerce commission and many
reasons why Omaha should win. The
transportation committee Of the exchange
will meet within a few days to decide on a
course of action.
Big Point of Interest.
1.-THE traffic interests of the entire coun-
try are watching the controversy between
! the Cedar Rapids s. Iowa City Interurban
railroad and the Chicago & Northwestern, -
said Secretary Mcvann. He had just re-
turned from Cedar Rapids, Ia. where he
was the principal witness in the hearing
of the case before the Interstate Commerce
commission.
1T is the first case under the new pro-
vision of the interstate commerce law
which gives the commission power to Ak
joint through rates where the railroads
concerned fail to do so. The Iowa inter
urban lines are aggressively Differed and
| managed. They are vitality interested, as
they are all freight carriers and have been
| refused participation in the joint tariffs OF
| the railroads in an effort of the latter to
shut them out OF business. The Cedar
| Rapids road asked the commission to give
1t joint tariffs.
1.-THE interuTbans carry large amount
OF freight. On the Cedar Rapids & Iowa
| City Interurban, which is only twenty
eight miles in length, go cars year origi-
nate. was called as a witness In the
case because Linn county is my home
county and 1 am familiar with railroad
conditions there.
1.-THE defendant was allowed twenty-five
days to prepare and present its side Of the
case, and the next hearing will be awaited
with much interest"
Threaten Loss of Trains.
Railroad men at local headquarters say
residents along the branch lines of tn,
roads in Nebraska will lose most of theli
passenger trains II the proposed reduction
| in passenger rates is made. The officials
declare that passenger service in Nebrasks
| is maintained at an absolute loss and tina
although a few of the through trains dur
/ ing the summer season may make a profit
| yet the state as whole, including thu
sparsely settled districts. shows a loss.
ut Is a question in Nebraska IL the pas
senger service pays a fair share of thu
operating expenses" said one OF the opera
| ting officials in Omaha Thursday. love-
| 1000 miles Of passenger service have beef
| added in Nebraska in the last two year
on branch lines which penetrate new sec
| stions of the state, all for the purpose o
| furnishing passenger service into thost
| thinly inhabited sections for the beneh
of homeseekers and the population livinl
along these lines. At the request of com
mercial and civic bodies in western hal
OF the state thousands OF miles of passen
ger service were put in and are now main
tanned solely to promote these sections
Many trains do not earn 40 cents a mile a
against an operating cost of 80 cents
mile The population of Nebraska is fl
teen per square mile as against eighty-sil
in Illinois, forty in Iowa, 1877 in France, 81
in England and twenty-three in the Unite,
states. Any reduction in the maximum
rates would no doubt sweep away the en-
tire fabric OF cheaper excursion rates mad
use Of so largely by the working classe
of the state. 1t would be very questionable
il the roads could further maintain, eve
for reasons based on policy of develop
ment, many of the branch passenger train
now run solely for these reasons.
Successor to Russell.
C. NJ. Bevington, trainmaster of the Mis-
souri, Pacific at Little Rock, has been ap
pointed superintendent of the Omsh
division OF the Missouri Pacific TO take Tn
place of James Russell, who resigned I
ACCEPT the position of superintendent OF tn
Beardstown division Of the Burlington. Nj
Beyington has been with the Missouri Ia
lcifc at Little Rock for the last three year
ana prior to that time was with the sam
road on the Louisiana division. Prior I
that time Mr.. Bevington was train dis
hatcher on the Alton. Those in Oman
who know Mr.. Bevlngton say he is
young man of fine appearance and hustle
ana should made good superintendent 70
this division.
All flannel blouses and shirts go at /;