The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-04-14
YIELD POINT ON
BERTH Fight
PULLMAN OFFICIAL COMEDIES
uPPERs SHOULD COST LESS
THAN LOWERS.

Chicago, April 14,-Oficials Of the
Pullman company stand In the attitude
Of being willing to concede that there
should be a difference in the price
of upper and lower berths in sleeping
cars, but are not willing to submit
to the decision OF the interstate COM
merce commission. which will event
ually require reduction in all the
rates charged.
With respect to the portion of the
decision ordering a reduction in the
price Of the upper berths to three
fourths the rates charged for the use
of lower berths. John S. Runnells, vice
president and general counsel for the
Pullman company, said:
1.-THE company might be willing to
concede that the use of an upper berth
is worth less to the passenger than
is the use of a lower berth. despite the
fact that 1t costs the company more
to provide an upper berth than 1t does
lower berth. Speaking personally I
may say that there might very properly
be less charge for uppers than for
lowers, but / wish to say most en-
phaticaIly that the difference should not
be so much as the commission orders. .
Likely to Contest Ruling.
Although Mr.. Runnells did not say
anything from which such conclus-
ion could be drawn, there is reason for
believing that the Pullman company
will contest the jurisdiction of the
scommission in the courts, and If sue
cessful, will voluntarily make a differ
ence between the rate charged for up
per and for lower berths. The COM
pany is in position to contest the juris-
diction, because that question was re-
served when the case was heard before
the commission.
Mr.. Runnells and John J. Mitchell,
president of the Illinois Trust and Saw
ings bank. both declared yesterday
that there was grave doubt whether
or not the commission had jurisdiction
over the Pullman company. Regarding
this point Mr. Runnells said:
ut was contended before the COM
mission that the Pullman company Is
simply a manufacturer of cars, which
it rents to the railroads, and that it
does not engage in the transportation
of either persons or property in any
sense of the word. 1t is ottherefore,
in our estimation "a common carrier
within the meaning of the statute, nor
could it legally be declared by statute
to be a common carrier. In so far as
the transportation of persons is con-
cerned, the Pullman company stands
in the light of a travelling hotel which
rents rooms to passengers whom the
railroad is transporting. Even the
rooms are sold by the railroad COM
pany''
Regards Decision as Unfair.
Regarding the decision of the COM
mission as whole Mr.. Runnells said:
with respect to the fairness of our
rates, / want to say that the Pullman
company has not raised it's rates in
twenty years, but has, rather, reduced
many rates. on the other hand, no.
tel companies which are engaged in a
kindred business have increased their
rates from so to 100 per cent during
the past twenty years.
1.-THE whole argument for a reduction
of our rates is that the company is
making too much money. A new COM
pany starting in today could not give
the service we do at present and re-
turn a reasonable profit on the invest
ment. Every contract made with a
railroad is as a general proposition
more favorable to the railroad and
less favorable to the sleeping car com
pany."