Arizona republican., 1909-08-01
SECRETARY BIcKNELLs STATEMENT TO MERCHANTS
COMMISSIONS REQUEST FOR RE-
 DUCTION OF CLASS RATES.
Mir. BickneII Dcplores the Misrcpre- sentations Which Have Been Made

Mir BickneII DcpIores the Misrepre- sentations Which Have Been Made
 Secretary Bicknell of the Arizona railway commission yesterday issued the following statement to merchants in relation to the commissions re- cent request of the railroads for a re- duction of local class rates:
 To the Merchants of Phoenix:
 On July 16 the Arizona railroad commission presented to the railways of the territory a petition asking for a reduction in local class rates. In this petition q systematic method of fix ing rates of the various classes with relation to each other was suggested
 As has already been publicly stated. was warned weeks ago that any and all the work of the commission would be attacked by the Maricopa County Commercial club or it's officers and the numerous newspaper articles of recent date emanating from that or ganization clearly confirm the state ment
 I shall not now concern myself with the question-why does the club wish to create public sentiment against the commission but so many misleading and incorrect statements have been made that. in justice to the commis- sion. a reply seems necessary.
 As to the work of the commission. past and future, each member Is will ing to let the record speak for itself.
 am generally supposed. I believe. to know something of the method of constructing freight schedules. and in answer to the article of July 22 in which the clubs traffic manager states that the proposed schedules will increase every rate to and from Phoenix" I wish to say most emphat- ically that the rates proposed do not mean increase. but do mean an aver age reduction to all lines in the ter ritory of about 27 per cent.
 The average reduction in the rates between Phoenix and Wickenburg is % per cent. between Phoenix and Ash Fork 22 per cent and for the entire S F P lS P line an average reduc- ton of about 90 per cent.
 The S F. r & P line is supposed to and probably does handle 50 per cent of the freight traffic into and out of Phoenix.
 The Maricopa & Phoenix railroad was asked to reduce its class rates g per cent. This line probably handles 40 to 45 per cent of the freight into and out of Phoenix.
 The insignificant balance is handled by the Phoenix & Eastern railroad, line that has cost the builders S1.276.- 7@9 and earned net last year s14.7S1. fraction more than 1 per cent on it's investment, and it was asked to re- duce its rates 12Iz per cent
 Any layman may satisfy himself that these percentages are correct by using the examples shown in the peti- tion.
 l. of couRe. do not know why the traffic manager ignored the footnotes of the petition. which clearly provide that in cases where the proposed schedule technically disturbs the low CT jobbers' rates. these lower rates shall be continued in effect. but I give him credit for having overlooked the footnotes instead of having malicious Iy misrepresented facts.
 There are a few instances wherein lIlt tdilpdu NidSStS liit ItN SNil'hhit is slightly higher than the old basis For example, the fifth class rate from Phoenix to Florence is IF cents per 100 pounds higher. and about the same increase occurs in the fifth class from Phoenix to Winkelman. and in some other cases differences of 2, 8 and 1 cents may be found. There is nothing to complain about in the gen eral adjustment. even if there was a movement under these carload rates. but there is very little. and believe absolutely no movement of freight in carload lots from Phoenix to these points under class rates You merchants know and can answer that question yourselves.
 The proof of the pudding is the eating thereof. If we are able to se- cure the adoption of our suggestions concerning these local class rates, shippers will at once learn awho was in the right, and we have no fear of the verdict.
 It. should be clear to the lavmah that the petition deals solely with class rates and offers no excuse for the cancellation or revision of the thousands of commodity rates carried in tariffs applying throughout the ter ritOry.
 The subject of commodity rate re- vision is being given careful study by the commission, and in its turn will be presented to the carriers in intel llrent form
 In conclusion I will state that all though so charged on every possible occasion. I have never by word or ac- ton taken any steps to cause discord within the Maricopa County Commer- cial club; on the contrary, I have said to it's president, its vice president and many of it's members that l stood ready to work in harmony with it at all times and that statement is now publicly reiterated and is the sentiA ment of the entire commission.
 Very respectfully.
 NJ. O. BICKNELL,