New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-16
RATE HEARING ENDS HERE
Now Goes to Chicago, Then Final
Session in Washington.
B. & o. OFFICIAL TESTIFlES
Knows of No Shipper on His
Road Who Objects to the Pro-
posed Advances.

The Interstate Commerce Commission
hearing on the proposed freight rate in
creases closed here yesterday. to be re-
suued in Chicago Monday, and when
finished there il will be terminated at
Washington. where the railroad presidents
VIII testify. II was said by expert counsel
Yesterday that the witnesses heard at the
Waldorf had pretty well made out their
case which was based on the claim that
increase OF wages had made advance OF
freight rates necessary
The railroad programme Is to prove
through the testimony of the presidents.
and mass of statistics to be submitted
IN the mean time, that the increased cost
Of operating the railroads. apart from the
wage advances. made il imperative that the
charge for hauling goods should be more
In this manner, il was said the railroads
would holster their cause from every point.
At the Waldorf yesterday the witness of
the dav was c. s. Wight, freight traffic
manager of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail
road. one Of the classification COMMITTEE
Of 1SS7 which arranged the schedules which
have been used since. None of the coun
sci could tan.le him or get admissions
that might be DANA ging He said in his
general testimony that the advance Of II
cents hundred on first class and other
fast freight was not enough.
The roads ought 20 receive more" he
said It was decided il would be best
not Ia make the advance large as it
should he. so that the commercial and
shipping interests would not be disturbed
The advance is actually far more equita bic
and fair to the shippers and merchants
than 10 the roads for the service they are
giving
There were several minor points constd-
cred. and then Mr. Wight continued
when rates were being prepared for th9
raise many shippers and commercial N
terests using the Baltimore & Ohio agreed
that the road ought to have more income
but wanted some other persons TO bear the
burden Of increased rates. So we raised
al alike. that the new scale would bear
the same proportion as the old TO all
classes DO not know Of a shipper on our
road who objected
Frauds by undertaking were referred 10
by Nj Wight. a practice said TO be very
prevalent The fraud is punishable under
the interstate commerce act, and railroads
try TO protect themselves by means OF an
inspection fund Louis Brandeis. one Of
the counsel for the shippers. wanted 10
know why the roads did not report such
cases Nj Wight said il was not their
business TO act d. lI4OiIlItiS ne tNl-
dence was available at any time a district
attorney should choose to prosecute
Before adjournment TO Chicago was taken
Clifford Thorne the counsel for the Iowa
grain and meat shippers, wanted the tes-
1imony of John B. Thayer. vtce-president OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad. stricken off the
records because he was not available for
cross-examinaJiOn. having arranged to re-
turn 10 Europe for his health He had
come from abroad 70 attend the hearings
and was ordered back by his physicians.
Then Mr.. Thorne said:
i protest at the conduct of this in
vest cation relating to the admission of evl-
dence not subject to cross-examination as
a violation OF the spirit and the act OF
Congress under which this commission is
authorized to proceed in this investigation.
because the right Of cross-examination is
abrogaJed
I move that this commission subpoena
,aersons who can disclose the details Of
large operating expenses as compared win
previous wears together with earnings and
whereas this can only he disclosed by ex-
animation Of such persons and records as
this commission only has authority TO pur-
sue I move that the commission send its
authorized agents TO the offices OF the
railway companies 10 examine books. data
and other evidence in the original. which
has not been produced here"
The examiner. Mr. Brown, said that the
commissions attention would be called -
the remarks Of Mr.. Thorne and then the
latter explained his reasons for asking for
the more minute investigation. which is IN
tended TO make the investigators familiar
81 first hand with the operating expenses
IN detail not relying upon the reports SUD-
Il-irted by The railroad companies.
The counsel for the railroads objected.
but the matter was referred to the commits
sion for consideration, and adjournment ID
Chicago followed.