Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-13
Nebraska
CLASSIFICATION FIGHT IS ON
State Railway Commission Begins a
Hearing Thereon.
RAILROAD RATEMAKER APPEARS
Com mission Refuses TO Adopt n sag
Eestion of Colonel spens, and Nc
Vsnn and Editor sprecher
re Heard.
From a staA correspondent.

From a stan Correspondent.
LINCOLN, May 12-The state railway
commission on Wednesday began hearing
railroad men in regard TO a new freight
classification. The commission last year
refused TO adopt western classification No.
~ and for nearly a year No. ~ is the clas-
sification that has been in force. The
numerous changes in articles from one
class to another and the changes in the
car load weights made by the proposed
classification No. IS caused the commits
sion TO issue an order TO retain No. ~ in
force until a new one can DO agreed uron.
The commission desires to follow the ex-
ample Of the railway commissions of other
states and make one of its own. The pres
ent hearing is for that purpose. CiasSiti-
cation No. a Is used as a basis by the com
mission in adopting one Of Its own.
+. o. Becker OF Chicago. chairman Of the
committee Of railroad ratemakers that
promulgated classification No. IS. appeared
before the commission to explain the
commission TO dsby92roa hafhDt hrdlu up
changes made by No. IS He gave a de-
tailed account Of the changes that result
In a decrease IN rates.
Colonel Spens OF the Burlington freight
department suggested at the opening that
the co~~nission might confine its hearing
only TO changes against which shippers
have protested. No sn%@pers were present
when Mr.. Spens surveyed the room. but
Chairman Clarke and Commissioner win
nett both declined TO take his suggestion
that changes against which no rotests were
filed might be considered satisfactory to
the shippers. The commission stated that
1t desired to act upon its own initiative In
the matter of classification, but in fact il
had received many protests by mail and in
each case the commission had said It would
consider the protests.
Many Oars Put In.
Mr.. Becker told In general way Of the
changes in the classification No. rs as com
pared with No. "A. The new items inserted
are 24 In number, A items are eliminated
l5 classification ratings are advanced, SO
are reduced. 9o minimum car load weights
are advanced and II reduced
FraternRl Divorce Permanent.
That the grand lodge of Nebraska, An
Client Order United workmen, intends to
consider its divorce from the supreme
lodge of the United States as absolute
was clearly shown this morning in its
deliberations
Amendments to the bylaws were part
Of the order of business and where refer
ence was made to the supreme order re-
lating to the Jurisdiction of this state,
1t was cut out by a big vote.
THE Nebraska grand lodge is done
with the supreme body for all time
said a leading member
The election OF grand officers for the
coming biennium has been proceeding
slowly on account of the large number
OF candidates for most of them.
Whittlesey IL Recorder.
Fred c. Whittlesey was elected grand
recorder this afternoon. He was ap-
pointed to the office to fnl a vacancy
caused by death and has proven an able
secretary. He was opposed by e. c.
Phillips of Table Rock and F.. T. Dimicb
of Wauneta.
The fight for the office of grand re.
ceiver has been one of the keenest and
most picturesque for years. Six candi'
dates were on the list. II is predicted
that f. l.. Dodder OF Omaha will get the
plum, though Robert p. Falkner of Hast
ings was running him close. H. ]. Whit
I more of Lincoln. 1. w. Alter of Wayne
and W. f. Philby of Deshler withdrew
from the race. leaving Messrs. Dodde,
and Falkner to fight 1t out for tn,
office.
Members of the Law committee WHIT
were elected are ]. NJ. Bell of York, r
A.. Polly of Seward and H NJ. waring o.
Omaha.
Lincoln will be the next meeting plac'
of the grand lodge. Kearney, Omaha ant
McCook were applicants and a hvel!
fight occurred over a future meeting
place.
Lincoln Posto6ace GrowinE.
Frank ]. Rogers of Chicago. presiden
Of the United National Association o
Postoffice Clerks, addressed a luncheon
party arranged in his honor in the Com
mercial club dining room today. Thrift