The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-11-21
BRANDE|S
is HEARD
BetterManagement and
Economy for the
Railroads

Washington, Nov. 21-The opening
statement OF Louis ID. Braudels. coun-
sci for the traffic committee of the
commercial organizations of the At.
lnntic scaboard. told the story OF the
alleged injustice of the suspended rate
advances when the Interstate Com
merce commission today resumed its
hearing OF the increase proposed by
the eastern trunk lines
Mr., BrandeiS declared that the pro-
posed rate increases were neither just
nor reasonable and that greater cfIi-
the railroads. He contended for SCI
cntlliC management of the roads and
said tho railroads should cooperate
TO reduce costs instead of combining
to increase rates
He described what he said was the
huge field for the application OF Scien-
ufc management and the rich fruit in
economies and improved service
which may be expected to result, eco
Monies which have been said TO ag-
gregate more than a million dollars
day
While he promised evidence that
economies in railroad operation arc
possible, he said the pending increase
In freight rates should not be np-
proved until the subject should have
been further investigated by the In
terstate Commerce commission on Its
own initiative.
He urged such an independent op.
Grafton because much valuable cyi-
denco would be available to the com
mission, which Is not available to
the shippers, including some expert
ments In scientific management by
the roads
He combatted the railroad contcn-
ton that a new source OF income
through increased freight rates must
be found Instances where such ac-
tual need may appear. he said. have
resulted not from the fact that pre-
sent rates are too low, but that the
management has, through reckless ex-
pansion or other waste. and through
financial inefllclency. impaired the
financial condition of the roads and
that the burdens SO arising should be
borne by the stockholders through re-
ductionS of dividends and not by
shippers and consumers through In
crease in freight rates.
Mr.. Brandeis charged that the pro-
posed horizontal increase in class
rates would burden the small pro-
ducer and consumer, that it makes ar
bltarily a sweeping change OF long
distance rates which have largely
been in effect for nearly a generation,
that the changes are made without
evidence whether the existing rates are
that the change effect
more than four thousand different ar
tlcles made without adequate inycs-
h5ation into the effect upon the par.
ucular industries to which they an.
ply. and that they involve grave in
Justice, discriminating unreasonable
In favor OF articles to which commo-
dlty rates apply and to some extent
discriminate In favor of local traffic.
Even If the railroads need addition
al net income and some raise in
lrieght rates were a proper means he
argued. the commission should not
approve the particular tariffs now
under consideration.
He declared that under scientific
the errors would he pre
vented, delays and accidents avoided
and thnt much of the enoconmy would
How from fuller use of plant and
equipment and the lesser employment
Of working assets
He urged the use of appronriate
machinery in loading and unloading
lrelgnt' warehousing and accounting.
TO reduce expenses and congestion of
terminals