The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-01
RAILROADS MAY
Be AGGRESSIVE
IntimatiOn Given Out That Ship
pers Will Be Asked TO Tell
of Their Profits.
YICE-PRESIDENT MELCHER
OF ROCK ISLAND TALKS
Says Business Has Not Kept
Pace With Increase in Oper-
Grating Expenses.

CHICAGO. Aug, 3l.-Coincidcnt with
the closing OF the testimony for the
Santa Fc system before the special eX-
aminers for the interstate commerce
commission and the statement OF the
roads statistcan that Increases in
freight rates asked would net the Santa
Fe only $4,000 Increase yearly In earn
lngs, there came a suggestion today that
the railroads now on the defensive might
change their tactics and seek TO compel
the shippers who oppose the advance III
freight rates TO decide how much they
profit on the different commodities under
consideration,
a request from Attorney F. J. Norton.
counsel for the Santa Fe, for the names
OF the different association Of shippers
represented at the hearing tha0 he
might question certain OF the shippers,
gave color TO this report.
When the Initial presentation OF the
contentious OF the Santa Fe system was
concluded the hearing was transferred TO
the Rock Island road.
The first witness at the afternoon ses-
sion a. Poteet. chairman OF the
Trans Missouri Freight bureau. He pre-
tect in the territory west Of the Mis-
souri, river. The tables showed both
the class and commodity rates and In
cluded the years 1900 to 1910,
Shippers Probe Rates,
Attorney John II. Atwood of the ship
the method In which the rates were
raised and asked for the names OF diff |
ferent representatives OF railroads pres
ent when the order changing the freight |
rates was decided on.
Mr.. Atwood also asked II the railroad |
representatives on that occasion con- |
sidered an Injunction issued by the fed |
eral supreme court in 1897 prohibiting
any agreement on rates to be charged |
by the trans Missouri roads. The wit
ness answered that the injunction was
HiSrnSSp6
clared the question was immatcria and |
had nothing TO do with the case,
Vice President F. o. Melcher, OF the
Rock Island company was questioned by |
Attorney w. 5. Dickinson, counsel for
the road. He offered in evidence a table
showing that the Increases in wages
road amounted In 1906 and 1907 to $52S.-
900; In 1907 and 1908 to $1.314. 900: In
1905 and 1909 to sl.3l4.000, in 1909 and
1910 to s1,i51 900; and In 1910 and 1911
the estimated increase would total
$2.4e5.oo0. and in 1912 the estimated in
crease would be S2,6l2,00o
Causes of Increase.
Mr., Melcher said that the road does
not get more efficient labor by reason
OF the Increased wages. Some of the
increases, he said. were the result OF
threatened strikes and some were grant
ed after arbitrator.
THE argument advanced by the en-
poyees In 1906 for an Increase" he said,
was that the roads were prosperous and
the men wanted chunk OF the pros
perity."
In the later pleas for advanced wages
the men argued that the cost Of living
had increased and for that reason de-
manded more money.
MI Melcher also commented on the
legislative measures that had increased
the cost OF operating the railroad.
II do not object TO the safety appli
ance law" said Mr. Mecher. ''It is a
great thing but 1t does not save money.
We have 10 have as many men on a
train now as before the automatic
brake was Installed. The hours OF labor
bill was very proper bill, but Il has
required more mon and an increased ex-
penditure, Other required regulations
have been good. but they all cost money
and go to swell the increased cost OF
operation. Altogether | should say that
the Increased volume Of traffic has not
kept pace with the increased cost Of
More Costly Equipment.
Mr. Melcher. then discussed the in
the difference between steel and wooden
cars and declared the better eouIpment
whlch increased the cost OF opera ting
the railroad was the result OF a demand
from the public for improved facilities
The hearing on the general increase
was suspended and the examiners be-
gan consideration OF a specific tariff OF
the Northern Pacific rating loan to in
points In eastern Washington
apparent Increase In the back haul
charges was really an equitable adjust
Of another line of the road which
worked hardship 20 Tacoma and Seat
tie shippers under present conditions
The hearing OF the main case will be
Rock Island road will continue It's pre- {
sentatfon OF evidence