The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-09-03
ATTORNEYS FOR TWO SIDES
HAVE WARM TIME IN
RATE HEARING,
ATTORNEY PIERCE ANGRY


Chicago, Sort, :. Frequent clashes
between attorneys for the railroads ana
the legal representatives ne the ship
pcrs marked loday's hearing before the
examiners for the interstate commerce
commission over the proposed advance
IA freight rates Attorney H. u. Pierce
Of the Rock Island railway clashcd
with Attorney II. H. james. attorney
for u group Of shippers. Pierce re.
scntrl Il suggestion that statistics had
been omitted by the comptroller Of the
road for an Interior purpose. The Rock
Island company's presenting Of its
resolution FOR desiring the rates was
completed and the Wabash started It's
evidence that the operating expenses
had Increased and greater returns for
hauling freight were needed
At the conclusion Of tho testimony
of Comptroller Nay of the Rock Island.
Henry Miller. vice president and gen
cral manager of the Wabash, was
called 10 the stand and was examined
by Attorney y. s. Brown. counsel for
the Wabash railroad. Before offering
In evidence u number of tabulated
statistics. Mr.. Miller testified that the
revenues OF the road have not enabled
the management to operate and main
tain the line up to the needs OF the
public nor To Install improvements.
The income of the road" he said.
enables us 10 care for the mainte-
nance of the present trackagc and
equipment, hut leaves nothing for re-
placing structures and practically
nothing FOR Improvement"
Mr.. Miller. speaking for the period
since 1905. said: I'm this time about
100 locomotives have been sent to the
scrap heap and We have replaced $50.
There has been no new freight equip.
men, since 1907 and no passenger ears
have been added to the rolling stock
since 1901"
Both operating revenue and operat-
ing expenses have increased AIR. Miller
declared
"rhe operating expenses" the new
witness continued, have remained
about constant until this year and have
now grown out of all proportions
Among the items of increased ex-
pense enumerated by Mr.. Miller were
wages Of employees which. according
10 tables presented by him. increased
for the transportation and mante-
nance Of way department sl,642,0 900
In 1910 over the amount paid in 1908;
for the locomotive and car depart
mcnt employees tho increase from 1908
to 1910 was 1896. 1876.
Wage increases allowed since June
this year." said Mr.. Miller, viii
amount tn saDo.OD0 IL year and tile el-
"A
ana conductors and brakelnen and the
shop1nrn arc now considering what
their demand for wages viii be
Rolling Stock
Another item of expense To the road.
the witness declared. WAS the increased
damage IL rolling stock through care
less handling ~ cars equipped with
automatic couplings.
This rough handling Is in dlsobcdi-
cncc of the rules Of the rond. but there
seems To lie no way To stop It," said
Mr.. Miller. I'VE estimate the damage
10 equipment, together with the In
stallmcnt Of safety appliances from
1904 to 1910 Will amount to more than
$@2o,5D0, The hours Of service and tn
full laws have also added Ia I'll ,
expense Of operating the railroad"
ON cross examination Mr., Miller de
elared that the road had been econ
omieally operated with the In
creased rates proposed the road Will
earn about $4,000 "A year more than
II Is now earning. but that would not
be sufficient to supply our needs and
would only be a drop In the bucket"