Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-04-10
SALT LAKE CASE
is INVESTIGATED
BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL Is
NOT HURRYING
NOT AS QUICK AS IN SANTA FEE
HEARING
Matter of Railroads and Rates in
General Is Gone Into Thor
oughIy During the Ex-
animation

| In contrast to the methods pursued
in the investigation of the alleged cases
of discrimination in rates shown by the
Santa Fe road the state railroad COM
mission and Attorney General Webb
took their time in getting under way
when the Salt Lake road appeared before
| that body at the chamber of commerce
yesterday morning
| United States District Attorney Os-
car Lawler appeared toward the
close of the morning session but would
| not say whether or not the federal
government intended taking up these
| charges of discrimination in rates
shown by the railroads, although such
is believed to be the case.
| Among the Salt Lake officials pres
ent were: F. A. Wann, general traf-
| fic manager, both passenger and
| freight; Thomas M. Sloan, assistant
general freight agent; H. l, Belts. audi
tor, and r. e. Wells, general manager,
were in attendance, while the two at
| torneys for the road, A. S. Halsted and
v. =. Kelly, were also present.
| Most of the questioning was done by
| ALIOT0ey NIeHtIdl ffSpD, <hooAoShhS ~
torney Benjamin being at his side con-
stantly and comforting with him
| throughout the morning session.
Numerous ouestioners Query Witness
Commissioner Col. H. D. Loveland
also asked the main witness, General
| Traffic Manager f. A. Wann, some
| questions, while attorneys Halsted and
| Kelly of the Salt Lake also examined
| the witnesses a little
| Tomorrow the Santa Fe case will be
resumed at $3.50 o'clock in the morning.
| Although there were no representa-
| tives of any road but the Salt Lake
| in attendance at the morning session.
yet the small audience was intensely
interested in the proceedings and
watched every move of the game In
| tently. An occasionally humorous
sally was greeted with laughter on the
part of the auditors, Attorney General
Webb himself joining in the merriment
now and then.
r, A, Wann, general traffic manager
of the Salt Lake, was the first witness
| called to the stand, after the reading
of the order for the Investigation of
! charges along the lines of discrimina-
ton in intra-state traffic.
Attorney General Webb referred to
the buying of the Los Angeles Termi-
| Ildi halfway COllpeiny ny Lie Otll LANE
road, which the witness admitted had
happened some time ago.
Explains Tariff Rates
eve have adopted state and inter-
state tariff rates." said Traffic Manager
Wann, in reply to a question later,
rates which are governed by the
western classification.
Yes, these tariffs are printed" he
added, "the amendments being type
written mostly, although some are
| mimeographed.
In reply to another query he said:
MY instructions were to file them
with the state railroad commission"
| After explaining the technical mean
ing of overcharge in weight and over
charge in billing ii. 9. at a higher rate
than is published in the tariff, the
witness concluded.
There should be no other class of
overcharges. and there is none to my
knowledge and belief"
| Were there ever such charges as
| you refer to, other than these?' queried
| the attorney general.
Some, after came here first. That
was In lumber" answered Traffic
Manager Wann. las for instance, from
East San Pedro to Los Angeles, the
rate was 1-3 pounds to a foot I
| odSSCoLCQ q Nlldi6C 4Ol
lumber, because on actual freight some
shippers would run over"
WAS this rate, referred to above,
| for certain shippers alone?"
Lumber Shippers Have Same Rate
mo; all shippers of lumber had that
| same rate"
THAT tariff was made effective in
1902 and abrogated in 1902"
! "T holfaVe on was fha rAnlV
1.-THE actual weight of the lumber is
the basis now?'
"Yes,"' replied General Traffic Man
ager Wann.
why run on this rate, when it was
abrogated in 1902"
/ II came in December, 1906, to the Salt
Lake road at Los Angeles, so 1 don't
know what happened before that in the
past, and was too busy with the flu
ture." a reply which elected a laugh
from the audience.
what of special rates to individual
shippers, less than the tariff?'' was
asked next.
Nothing of that kind occurred to my
knowledge" said General Traffic Man
ager Wann.
1.-THE only rates you had were open to
everyone?".
| Yes"
Contract with Union Oil Mentioned
What do you know about this con-
tract between the Los Angeles Termin-
al company and the Union Oil COM
pany, signed by those two parties De-
cember 26, 1899, to cover a period of
twelve years after date, unless abro-
| gated?"
| The answer warded off the one which
might have been expected by the pub
lie, if the public had been present, for
the general traffic manager said:
"As far as rates are concerned, that
cannot be operative today. They told
me all rates came under our tariff"
Then in answer to further questions
of the attorney general, General Traffic
Manager Wann explained that the rate
of the Salt Lake road on oil from Bixby
to San Pedro was at cents barrel;
from Bixby to Les Angeles was 81!
cents a barrel. and from Los Angeles
to San Pedro was 10 cents a barrel
\ He also explained that the contract
between the Southern Pacific and the
Salt Lake roads was cancelled just at.
ter he came to Los Angeles to take III
i his duties with the LOCAL offices.
Il Here Attorney w. r. Kelly of the
\ Salt Lake explained for tn snefit OF