New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-15
HIGHER FREIGHT |
Rates Too Low for Years, Says
Wabash Traffic Manager.
TOO MUCH ASKED OF ROADS
Surprise Over Admission by
Pere Marquette Official on
the Stand.

According to one of the witnesses az the
Interstate Commerce Commission hearing
at the Waldorf. which was continued yes
terday. the freight in the territory under
investigation has been carried by the rail-
roads for years at too low = rate w I.
Maxwell, the general traffic manager Of the
Wabash Railroad. gave that as his opinion
In addition, he said that the demands By
business men for rapidity OF transit safety
and concessions along other lines had in
creased right along
Mr. Maxwell went into particulars in
order to justify his road in raising the
rates, saying that, taking shoes as an ex-
ample the increase amounted to 10 cents a
hundred pounds. thirty pairs of shoes
Counsel for the Wabash agreed to the re-
mark of one of the counsel for the shippers
that the man who bought shoes had to pay
higher freight for everything else he
bought The remark was made by Clifford
Thorne, representing the Farmers Associa-
ton and Cattle Shipper of Iowa
Take that state of yours, Mr. Thorns,"
said Mr. Maxwell, 1T has reduced rates
so that we can hardly live"
Il am sorry for YOU said the counsel,
but you still live.
Not live. only exist" retorted the Va
bash traffic manager
Louis Brandeis, representing the Seaboard
Shippers Association. got Mr.. Maxwell ex-
cited by asking in the cross-examinat ton
how the efficiency Of the road had been in
creased Mr.. Maxwell said:
1T has been increased in work. one man
| has TO do the work of two men on the
Wabash. and I don know Of any other
old thing there excepting work I would
| feel sorry for the rest of the railroad fra
terntty il il had to work itself out as We
have to on the Wabash
But the counsel wanted to know some
thing also about the reason why certain
class of high grade freight paid little or
nothing of the advance into which the
commission is delvins-
The only explanation was that the rates
were raised on goods that seemed to re-
| ceive the greatest handling and were able
TO bear it best Then there were some
goods, notably shoes. in which the COM
petition between the East and the West
was great and on which no raise could De
made in certain states because of the
freight rate laws. This was notably true
in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri Hides
and leather also had a very slightly in
Crea sed rate.
ne NlCe-pFeSiOeUI OF Ltle ere HdIVACltC
Railroad. A. Patriache. followed Mr.. Max
! well. He said the Michigan law prevented
his road from raising the rates on COM
nodities and compelled TO put the
increase on the higher class freights. He
/ said his line wanted more money out Of
the opera lions TO develop the road in Michi-
gan This admission was a surprise, and
the practice is contrary to the opinion of
half
be done through bond issues When asked
about il Commissioner HilIyer said;
TO pay for improvements from earnings
means that the shippers and the public pay
for it and then continue to pay interest
on such a gift by the higher charges Then
this gift given to the road We'll say, may
be taken in by some road as additional
capital That IS contrary TO the spirit
| under which this commission acts"
The hearing will be continued at o'clock
this morning.