Arizona republican., 1909-03-25

ne TdilTodQ rate nearing yesterday
entered upon the last half of the sec
ond and last stage when the testimony
on the part of the complainant Mari
cOpa Commercial club had all been
put in and the rate men of the trans
continental railroads were put on the
stand. They will continue to relate
today how railroad rates are con-
structed.
The net result of the dav's pro-
ceedings was to show beyond any doubt
what laymen had long suspected-that
there is a great deal of confusion re-
garding rates. II was in the main
the contention Of the defendants that
the best had been done for this valley
and the entire southwestern region
that could be done in the difficult cir
cumstances which attended the rail-
road business.
Everywhere the companies had found
themselves up against water oompeti-
tion competing lines or competitive
markets.
An interesting development OF the
day was the appearance on the stand
Of Colonel Randolph Of the Randolph
lines, who was obliged to leave the city
last night. Especial complaint had
been made against the rates on the
Maricopa & Phoenix. the Tempe ar
bitrary' That had figured not only IN
the case against the local lines.-but in
the cases against the through lines.
There seemed to be an especial pur
pose to secure a reduction of the rates
on that line.
Colonel Randolph submitted a state
ment showing that if there is such a
reduction, il will be by no means a
voluntary one. His statement Of the
financial condition of the line, cover
ing the four years it has been under
his control, shows a deficit of S1SS. II
there is to be any change made in the
NJ & P. rates, said Colonel Randolph,
they should be increased
He testified also regarding the PhOe-
nix & Eastern, concerning which it had
been stated by the complainants' wit
nesses the day before that immediate
" after the absorption of that line by
the Southern Pacific, there had been
an advance in rates. and that the ser
vice had deteriorated.
Colonel Randolph said that he was
unaware that there had been an ad
vance in rates. There should not have
been. he said, and if there had been. he
would at once order a restoration Of
the rates in force when he took con-
trol Of the road.
Freight Traffic Manager H. A. Jones
Of the Southern Pacific, in the course
of his testimony, yesterday afternoon.
made clear the difficulty Of fixing rates
to the satisfaction of all communities
as well as of individual shippers,
though he said the railroads were do
ing their best in that direction
President F NJ. Murphy of the San
ia Fe. Prescott & Phoenix was pres
ent Yesterday for the first time since
the hearing was begun, but he was
there rather in the attitude OF an In
terested spectator.
Speaking last night of the hearing.
he said that the only criticism he had
to make of the proceedings was
concerning the calamity cry that
Phoenix. the valley and the en-
tire region involved was what
had been called "No-man's Land"
an appelIation that would not sound
attractive to those whose aid was be
ing sought to build up the country.
This cry had been raised largely for
political and selfish purposes. There
was a better way, Mr.. Murphy believed
to obtain a redress of grievances than
to slander the country, which most
people were inclined to regard as
Garden of Eden, rather than NO
mans Land
II could not be contended that every
thing was as it ought TO be. but Mr.
Murphy believed that an adjustment
was coming: that it would bring bet
ter conditions for all, even though ev-
erybody might not be wholly satisfied.
Tie complainants Close.
When the proceedings opened in
the morning. Mr. Costigan, for the
Maricopa Commercial club. moved to
amend the complaint in each case by
including in the allegations the
statement that the rates were unjust,
excessive. discriminatory and should
be reduced. An exception was made
in tFe case of the grain rate of 20
cents to Prescott
Then followed testimony by several
shippers as to the excessive and dis
discriminatory character Of the rates,
but as this matter had been gone
over the day before, Special Examiner
LYONS insisted that the examinations
should be made brief.
Mr. Goldman Of Goldman q Co.
described several of the rates under
which his firm suffered. For instance,
salt cost $3.50 a ton in California,
while the freight on it was $3.50. The