Arizona republican., 1909-08-02
.s236
HAIR SPLITTING DEVICES.

The Jones' -Akers- Gazette combina- tion has reduced the attack on Mir. Murphy to such fine point that the hair splitting stage has been reached, indicating a degree of desperation on the part of the combine.
 In an article in the Gazette allu- sion was made to a special rate on mineral water from Castle Hot Springs. the purpose being to show that the rate was intended to give advantage to a product in which MT. Murphy was interested. The fact is that rate was made for the accom- mediation of Louis Melczer of this city and for residents of Prescott who desired to use the water. The rate was in effect for some time before Mr. Murphy knew it. It cannot be said that it has done anybody any harm or any good since the average shipments of water from the springs does not exceed thirty gallons a week and most of that, by the way, is used by the railroad which in any event would pay no tariff.
 in the same article there is com plaint that Phoenix has been dis criminated against in the passenger train schedule on the A. & C., which it was alleged was arranged for the benefit of Prescott. That may be answered by the statement of a well known fact that a passenger train was put on that line for the exclusive benefit of Phoenix and points on the 4. X C. to do away with the long layover at Wickenburg. Prescott re- ceived no advantage whatever from that arrangement
 In regard to another allegation in this hair-splitting, and we may add, this side-splitting complaint:
 Now comes the betrayal of PhOe nix by the rankest piece of discrim- ination ever conceived by railroad president merchant"
 It is charged that the tariffs on the A. & C. are arranged for the benefit of Prescott though Phoenix is twenty two miles nearer to 4. & C. points. MT. Jones presents a table of dis tances and normal rates" and cou- pied with it is a statement that on July 24 the rates from Prescott were reduced from 8 to fl cents below the normal rate.
 The fact is that the same rates apply from Prescott, Phoenix and Wiekenburg. The business of Pres | colt and Phoenix to A. & c. points l has not been affected by that ar rangement. Prescotts trade along the A. & C. has all along consisted mostly | of liquors and machinery and has 1 grown chiefly out of the business con ! nection of merchants along the A. | & C. with Prescott. Slightly higher | rates to Prescott would not have ! diverted a dollars worth of this trade | to Phoenix. But the greater part of | the trade along the A. & C. is done | by Wickenburg houses, though they | have no advantage in rates over eith- CT Prescott or Phoenix
 These matters are referred to by us not by way of explanation, but to show the puerile character of the latest charges.
 MT. Jones. putting words into the mouth of a Phoenix merchant, speaks in high terms of the main line off cials of the Santa Fe. That is grati- flying in that it shows that the en- tire Atchison system is not blue-pen- ciled by the Jones' -Akers Gazette combination. These officials have been fair and considerate both with the shippers individually and collec- lively" Elsewhere in the same issue the Gazette calls again upon MT. Murphy to explain why sS9,OO0 an nually should be spent to officer the road in order to give Murphy a job" It may be assumed that the fair and considerate" main line officials be- lieve that a local organization with