The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-31
me Y ADA Is.
SURE OF
VICTORY
State Asks for Equal Rate
With 0gden-=COmmissioE
Taking Testimony

Reno, New, March 30.-When the
hearing was, resumed at 1:30 this att
ernoon before Examiner Lyon of the
interstate commerce commission, in
the case OF the Nevada railroad COM
mission against the Southern Pacific
and the Nevada, California & Oregon
railroads. charging unjust rates, Com
missioner Schaughnessy. formerly as
sistant superintendent Of the Southern
Pacific railway, testified as to the
cost OF operation of the line from Og-
den to Reno. and from Reno to Sacra-
mento. He filed figures compiled from
data secured from the railroads In
which II was shown that the cost Of
operating the line from Reno to Sac
rament was very nearly the same as
operating the line from Ogden TO Reno.
The object of such testimony being to
show that IL the Southern Pacific was
making a reasonable profit in hauling
aggregate tonnage through to the
coast at the low rates prevailing there,
there was no justification in the ar
bitrarily high rates charged to Reno.
Theodore Eisfeldt of the customs de-
partmcnt of San Francisco, was the
next witness for the plaintiff. He fur
nished records of steamships tonnage
received at the port of San Francisco
In 1908, originating at New York. This
testimony was considered valuable for
the reason that If this disproyes the
former testimony OF H Jackson In the
Spokane case, which testimony the
railways rely upon to prove water COM
petition in the Nevada case.
Secretary Walker of the railroad
commission, presented tables of the
earnings and profits, compiled from
the reports of the Southern Pacific.
covering the years of 1906, 1907 and
1908. which showed the profits of the
Southern Pacific company above meet
Ing expenses and paying dividends.
The last witness for the plaintiff was
Professor Thurtell of the Nevada uni
versity. He gave the approximation
Of the profits the Southern Pacific
company would make out OF handling
business to Reno at equal rates with
the cost and the losses in revenue
which would also represent the saw
ings to the shippers and consumers by
the reduction Of rates to equal the
cost basis
S. G.. Luce, traffic manager of the
Southern Pacific. testified for the de-
fense. He was put on to prove the
railroads schedule of rate making.
The testimony up to the hour OF TAX
ing recess was line of queries and an
swers, directed to this end.
Reno, March 30.-Chairman Lyon,
OF the Nevada railroad commission.
and Frank Cune, accountant of Spo-
kane rate fame, were the only witness
es before Special Examiner Lyon OF
the interstate commerce commission
in the Nevada rate hearing case this
morning Commissioner Lyon asked
Judge Bartine why the railroad east
of Ogden and Salt Lake had not been
included with the Southern Pacific
company. as defendants, Judge Bar
tine answered that these roads had
nothing TO do with the back haul
charged by the Southern Pacific from
San Francisco to Reno. and that all
that Nevada contends for is the same
rate from Ogden to Reno as exists be-
tween Ogden and San Francisco. Mr.
Lyon remarked that he was doubtful
| II the interstate commerce commission
would make ruling reducing this rate,
Bartine said the Nevada commission
was willing TO take its chances with
the Interstate commerce commission.
McCune's testimony had to do with
rate figures that he had compiled.
| Thlrty-two exhibits, consisting mainly
OF rate tables were introduced at the
morning session. AT noon an adjourn
meDt was taken until 2;30 o'clock this
afternoon. II Is expected that the
hearing Will be completed by tomor-
row night
In order to prevent Nevada losing
the case through technicalities. Judge
Bartine, conducting Nevada's case, an
nounced this afternoon he would In
clude ten trunk railroads operating
east OF Ogden as defendants in the
case. They are confident that Nevada
will win the fight and say they expect
a favorable ruling from the Interstate
commerce within eight months.