The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-09-23
utah SHIPPERS BEGIN THEIR
CASE FOR SQUARE TREATMENT
Continued from Page I.

afternoon. His testimony brought out
the fact that the rates from the Mis-
souri, river to Utah common points is
based on the rate esta blished for Mon
tana points. this system of rate-basing
being decided upon by the railroads on
account of the two districts coming into
competition. The witness was ques-
TONED at some length by Commission
er Babcock and Attorney Dey to show
that there is slight competition between
the Utah and Montana points. The
testimony also showed that although
Utah rates are based on Montana rates.
; Montana had no railroad service until
many years after Utah.
Mr.. MunrOe, during the morning
made the statement that the rates es-
tablished for Utah are entirely indie
pendent Of those fixed by the railroad
for Denver and other Colorado points,
and that a rate might be fixed for Utah
Independent of Colorado. In the after
noon he said that should a reduction be
made in the Utah rates it would bring
about q corresponding reduction to all
points eastward, although he said that
this reduction would not work automat-
ically i'm the case of the points east, but
would be neCessitated by reason of the
lowering of rates to Utah. He said that
a reduction of rates to Utah would pro-
tana points, which have the same
basis of rating. There seemed to be a
contradiction between some of the tes-
timony OF the morning and afternoon
in this respect 70 the untangling Of
which the qUestiOneTs devoted a con-
siderable amount Of time.
Long and Short Hauls.
The much discussed question of the
long and short hauls," under which
a lower rate is given from Chicago and
Missouri and Mississippi river points to
san Francisco than from the same
points TO Utah. also came up for a con-
siderable amount Of handling. The
railroad men who were on the stand at
tempted to explain that the rate given
ON the "transcOntinental hauls" was
based on water competition at San
Francisco, saying that Chicago, al
though 1000 miles from the Atlantic
coast, comes into competition with New
York in its rate by water TO San Fran
CsicO.
Mr. MunrOe, in discussing this phase
of the question, said the San Francisco
business includes much surplus bust
ness which the railroads take, although
II may not be as remunerative as some
other branches OF the business. He was
questioned by Commissioner Prouty, as
well as by Mr. BabcOck, with a view to
showing why a blanket rate exists for
the entire eastern portion of the cOun-
try, but not for the western half. and
why a rate could not be given. based
on mileage, west of the Missouri river
and the Mississippi river, as we'll as
east. He replied that conditions were
different in the west than in the east.
and gave it as his opinion that the rates
10 Utah are very fair, all things being
considered.
As to Competition
Mr.. Munroe was asked by Commits
siOner PrOuty why ii would not be pos
sible to give as low a rate between
Omaha and ogden, as between Omaha
and Chicago, and replied that there is
more competition between Chicago
and Omaha and a greater number of
companies to divide the business. He
was asked by the commissioner wheth-
er it would decrease the rate if there
were more companies doing business
between Omaha and ogden, whether on
the contrary it would not tend to in
crease the rate, on account of the fact
that there would be more companies TO
divide the tariffs. He said he cOnsid-
cred that there were too many cOmpa-
MES at present operating between the
Isn't it a fact that all the companies
between Omaha ana Chicago simply
meet and agree on a fixed rate. and
that is the extent of the competitions"
asked Commissioner PrOuty.
G. w. Luce, general freight agent Of
the Southern Pacific, and F. A Wann
general traffic manager of the Salt
Lake Route, also were on the stand
following Mr.. MunrOe, and were ques-
toned along the same lines, although
at the suggestion of Commissioner
PrOuty, who occasionally interposed a
question or hint as TO proper pro-
cedure, the answers given by Mr.. Mon
roe We're allowed to cover many of the
questions.
The morning hearing was called to
order promptly at 10 o'clock by Com
missioner ProUty, who announced that
the commissioners would take up the
case of the traffic bureau of the Salt
Lake Commercial club against various
railroads named in the complaint. In
answer to a query from the commits
siOner as to the appearance for the
traffic bureau, Attorney Dey and Mr.
BabcOck announced their appearance.
The list of the various railroads was
then called and the following appear
ances were entered for the various
lines.
Appearances.
Chicago, Burlington q Quincy: c. G.
BurnElm and Hale Holden.
Chicago & Northwestern: S. A.
Lynde
Chicago. Rock IslanO & Pacific: s. Fl.
Johnson and Z. 3. PIERCE.
Denver & Rio Grande: Z. n Clark
T. 7. Phillips and Z. NJ. Allison.
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