The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-09-23

Missouri Pacific: James c. Jeffrey.
Oregon Railroad & Navigation COM
pany: w. W Cotton.
Oregon Short Line: p. L. Williams.
J. A. Reeves.
Salt Lake Route: W. R. Kelley, A. S.
Halstead.
Southern Pacific: c. w. Durbrow.
Union Pacific: n. H. LOOMS, F. G.
billiard, J. A. Munroe and H. A. Jones.
No appearance was entered at the
opening session for the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe, the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & St. Paul, the Colorado Midland,
the Colorado & Southern, the Illinois
Central.
Appearance was entered at the open
ing of the afternoon session by Z. J.
MCVann, manager of the traffic bureau
OF the Commercial club Of Omaha, and
H. G.. Wilson, commissioner of the
Commercial club, Kansas City, who are
interested listeners at the hearing.
Nevada Commission Present.
Among other interested spectators at
the first days session were Colonel J.
f, Shaughnessy, Judge H. F. Bartine
and Henry Thurteu, members Of the
state railroad commission of Nevada.
After the announcement by the rep
resentatives of the various roads in
cluded in the traffic bureaus complaint
of their appearance. Commissioner
PTouty suggested that it might be we'll
to designate one or two of the rail-
road representatives to conduct the de-
Tense. Attorney billiard of the Union
Pacific announced that he intended to
conduct the main portion of the cross
examination for the interests of the
road he represented, and thought that
no for he, p
tives of any of the roads which might
have special questions to ask to put
these queries. Attorney billiard also
mentioned that a portion of the evil
dence to be introduced by the railroads
applied to the Spokane case, which is to
be taken up after the Salt Lake hear
ing, and said he did not desire to weary
the commissioners with a repetition.
Attorney Dey then made an opening
statement for the traffic bureau, say
ing that the reductions which were
sought in freight rates were intended
to promote the general good of the peO-
pie of Utah, and all that was desired
was a just and reasonable interstate
rate to and from the state. He said the
welfare of the residents Of the state de-
ponds to a greater degree on the means
Of transportation than upon any other
factor in their progress. Mr.. Dey said
the petitioners believe the rates to be
high and unreasonable. and said the
cost of living in this section also Is
high. He said the petition of the club
set forth the views Of the organization
as to what it considers q reasonable
rate basis He said the people of this
district claim the right to the same con-
ditiOns which exist in other parts of
the country. He said il was not the
purpose of the petitioners to disturb or
destroy, but 70 aid in building a new
foundation along the lines mentioned.
Statement by Counsel.
Attorney billiard, before the start of
the testimony, made a brief statement
to the effect that the railroads contend
ed that it is outside of and beyond the
jurisdiction of the commission TO es-
tablish a new set of rates, saying that
this could be done only by the carriers.
He said it is not permitted to do by
blanket petition indirectly what may be
done directly by law.
At the close of his statement Attor-
ney Dey called B. F. Bauer to the stand
as the first witness. Mr.. Bauer said he
is connected with the wholesale and re-
tail hardware business in Salt Lake,
having been with the firm he represents
over eleven years. He said in reply to
questions that the firms business for
the last year was in excess of two mill
lions the firm selling goods throughout
the state of Utah. He said that, in fix
ing the price to be charged for goods
the cost of transportation is added to
the cost of the goods at the factory,
and that the bulk of the merchandise
in which the firm deals comes from east
of the Missouri river. He was asked
- II
of wool, hides and other products from
Utah to the east the cost of transporta-
ton is borne by the grower, and said
he so understood conditions. He said
that in the business with which he is
connected the consumer pays the cost
Of transportation on the goods sold.
Service peteriorated.
Mr. Bauer was asked whether the
freight and traffic business of his com
pany is being sought as actively by rep
reSentdtives Of the Hartman railroads as
a few years ago. He replied in the mega
tive. He said he did not think there was
much competition among the carriers for
business. Mr.. Bauer said he did not think
traffic conditions in the various roads
had improved in recent years, but that
on the contrary he regarded it as having
deteriOTated. He said it takes longer to
get goods from the east than formerly
was the case. He was asked whether, in
his opinion the general officers of the
various roads have been more indepen-
dent and less liberal than formerly and
replied that this seemed to be the state
of affairs
Cross-eXamineG by Attorney billiard.
Nh. Bauer said the capital of the firm ne
represents was about 81 10000, and the
stock carried about ii half Million so that
with sales of two millions a year, the
stock is turned over four times. He es-
timated that the percentage of profit on
the business is about 10 per cent.
Then by turning the stock over four