The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1909-09-24
I)ELV|NG
INTO THE
R. R. RATE
Commission Sessions are
Growing interesting
at Salt Lake--Import-
ant Witnesses Heard

SALT LAKE, Sept. 2S.-The hear
ing before the interstate commerce
commission of the petition and COM
plants of the Salt Lake Commercial
club traffic bureau against the various
railroads centering In this city charg-
ing them. with maintaining arbitrary.
oppressive and exceptional transporta
ton rates both in and out OF this
territory and unjustly discriminating
against shippers and jobbers of the
inter-mountain region, this morning
entered upon its second day.
Among the railroads represented
by counsel and high officials are the
Hartman lines, Denver & Rio Grande
Chicago, Burlington Il Quincy; Chi
cago-Northwestern; Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific, and Missouri Pa
ciic. The Merchants Exchange of
San Francisco is also represented
by counsel.
Considerable interest attaches to
the hearing for the reason that much
of the testimony adduced will be
. used largely in the decision of all
freight rate cases originating in the
west. Water competition and the
long and short haul question will be
the main factors in the hearing. The
principal witness at today's session
was j. A. Monroe, general traffic
manager for the Union Pacific rail-
road company at Omaha.
Water competition said Mr.. Monroe
governed the matter of rates to a
great extent and water competition
cannot be viewed as only in existence
at points where the water runs but
has It's effect on inland points. Mr..
Monroe also thought that mileage
was not the proper basis on which
to figure rates but that the topO-
graphy of the country, cost of main
tenance and water competition should
be taken into consideration.
FOR GENERAL RATES.
He said that it would be highly
desirable If the different rates main
tanned on what is known as classes
and commodities could be abolished
and only one general rate established
which would be fair and equitable
for all concerned.
'It would be a happy consumma-
tion," said he, eff all these BURDEN
some matters of difference in rates
could be done away with by order
of the commission, but nothing short
of the Millennium can bring such a
condition about and I&doubt If even
that COULD do So"
GROUND is LIMITED.
When Mr. Munroe's testimony was
concluded, Judge G.. c. Day, who rep
resents the plaintiffs in the action
called for G. w. Luce, general freight
agent of the Southern Pacific. When
it became apparent that the witness
was about to be taken over the same
ground as others, who had previously
testified, Commissioner Prouty inter-
posed with the statement that Mr..
Luce should not be required to
answer question touching upon con-
ditions already inquired into. The
witness was then excused.
F..A. Wann, general traffic mana.
ger for the San Pedro, Los Angeles
and Salt Lake road, who was the last
witness of the day, testified that the
business from Salt Lake to San Fran
cisco was worthless to road without
eastern connections and for that rea-
acquire it. Mr.. Wann, when ques-
toned as to the ownership of the San
Pedro denied that the Hartman sys-
tenn had any control over the road.
The hearing will continue several
days.