New-York tribune., 1910-11-22
Slippers HAVE HEARING
raav Protest Against Increases
in Freight Rates
rrhNDEIS AS SPOKESMAN
r. Contends That Scientific
Management Would Solve
the Railroads Problems.
rFroa. TIE Tribune Bureau. J

r1--or. The Tribune Bureau
~-.-,,-r+on Nov. z1.-In an effort to
-,s+ The proposed advances in freight
-. Eastern trunk lines are unjust
-, hundred shippers descended on the
go Commerce Commission to-day
80 he presentation OF testimony in
- at that offered by the railroads
I 20 --,-eh- The present hearing is the
-, IN the struggle between railroads
sn4naers which has been waged with
sA- .,+ensir- since last winter. While
t-,ss was considering the adrninistra-
-,il-nsd bill the Eastern trunk lines
1s+h The Interstate Commerce Com
-, notice OF their intention 10 in
50, several thousand class rates. Under
/ .-s,.,,--n iayr the commission was pow
/, - g Prevent these increases from
- effect. but President Taft. through
'...-n.v General Wickersham. obtained
,r5,rnerion n the federal court at Han
=, Nc. and stopped the operation Of
y -sw rates. Later he urged Congress
4 !. .-ss-- s Clause in the railroad bill en-
.r.-i7r the Interstate Commerce Com
Il 80, n suspend al rate increases until
.bo-o.7gh Investigation had been made.
| = amendment was adopted. The investt-
-,-ion vii end when the shippers close
- -ss-in,ouy. The railroads have spoken
- onIr the answer Of the shippers and
80 5s,isior OF the commission remain.
: r-isf the railroads contend that they
! - greater income 10 maintain their
..-ssar5s u make necessary additions and
! A,--ove-7ents ard 10 obtain new capital
g. Increasing their facilities. They also
,.-,s,d that the raro of operating ex-
| ,.nses has risen through increased wages
~ bsrsuss o1 recent acts Of Congress
.,,7aIl4-E the use ef safety appliances.
| .fisr reports ana standardized accounting
+siz additional income, the railroad heads
,ss tbs commission last month. could be
,5-s,7es o1Iv by increasing freight rates.
The Shippers Contentious.
-ss sh,une-s. led by their general coun-
a. 1ous 2 Braudeis, are attempting 10
.-ow the commission that no new divi-
ssnss s-e necessary. that Il they were
tsoesss-y they should not be obtained by
i-r,sssss il freight rates; that such in
r-sases would work great harm TO the
ppers; that the proposed rates are dis
rrmi3sto-y ard unreasonable. and that
t5s railroads can increase their net earn
s1ys largely f they reduce their systems
% Thoroughly efficient and scientific
bass
In support q these contentious AiT.
srsH6eis made the opening statement this
aurzIng Re devoted particular attention
% the statements Of the railroad presi-
tsn-s 70 The commission last month. par
t.-1.HTly thcse q Presidents McCrea of
Pennsylvania. Willard Of the Balti-
rsre am Ohio, ana Brown Of the New
ru-k Central. and Tice-President Stuart
q ;hs Erie. He asserted that greater
rsclency in the management of the roads
FBuld yield 4 greater income and that
Preparation by the railroads 10 reduce
rasts instead Of - increase rates would
prove beneficial to all concerned. He gave
Many examples Of what scientific man
ssamslt has accomplished IN other lines
Ft BUSINESS. and contended that the rail
fVsis could save sI.0o0 GO e day If scien-
t1c methods were introduced by them
l-rSser-ec that scientific management
sznsn6s Eaeparedness and detailed analyt-
II study, that both employer and en-
pos gain and that i does not involve
;szszl expeudirureS- While he promised
Fssen e tl-st huge economics II railroad
fps-stou s-e possible, he said an increase
+ f-sIsht rates should not be approved /
1-ti the su5ject had heen more fully in 4
Fsy-igsred -v the commission on its OWN /
a-is-ve He urged such an independent +
lHvsstigstion because much valuable eT-i- I
teacs ToalE be given 70 the commission /.
F-ES not available - the shippers, in /.
e-gdlE some experiments IN scientific f.
rszszsnea- rs rhe roads.
| n slpPort of his conTeurions he intro I.
tired three witnesses today William a /
Essgsv-. Of Philadelphia. fled brief to /
prove thai the railroads under the law /
we're eoupeIizd To show cause why pro /
fes@5 fste increases are reasonable, and /
tat 10 burden Of proof rests on the ship /
leTs Il k Hathaway. vice-president OF |
he TEber Manufacturing Company, of |
aiia6eiphls declared that within the
| iss six vears his concern had intro /
tuoe9 scientific methods by which 3 re-
tHeed force Of workmen had been able !
Z rrebls the output Of the company 4
ssmes h. Dodge, president of the Link |
|