New-York tribune., 1910-09-08
FLOCK TO RATE HEARING
Interstate Commerce Pr0ber Has
to Move to Larger Room.
BOTH SIDES SEND COUNSEL
Roads Declare Wage Increases
More than Offset Proposed
Freight Advances

When George y. Brown, chief examiner
for the Interstate Commerce Commission.
opened the freight rate hearing at the
Board OF Trade yesterday so many officials
and representatives of railways appeared
that he had to adjourn the hearing and
hunt larger quarters in the Astor Gallery
of the Waldorf More than one hundred
railway representatives were present, while
there were also the representatives OF
many shippers associations and individual
shippers.
Among the railway men in attendance
were Charles F. Only, vice-president and
general traffic manager of the New York
Central lines; Clyde Brown and O f. But
terfeld, general counsel Of the New York
Central; George P. Thayer, yice-president.
and Francis Gowan. counsel of the Penn
svivania Railroad: Edgar Rich, viCe-presi-
dent OF the Boston & Maine. 3. Campbell,
vice-president and L. u. Robbins, counsel,
of the New York New Haven s. Hartford
Daniel Willard, president of the Baltimore
& Ohio: George u. Dixon, freight traffic
manager, and Carroll NJ. Bunting. con-
troler, of the Pennsylvania, Hugh J. Pond.
general counsel of the Baltimore d Ohio:
James Jeffery, general counsel of the Union
Pacific; George NJ Randall, vice-president
of tho Baltimore & Ohio; d W. Cooke,
freight traffic manager of the Erie Rail
road. a. T. Wickham. vice-president of the
Chesapeake q Ohio: John I. Wilson, coun-
sci for the Hooking Valley. and ". S. Op-
dyke. general counsel for the Baltimore &
Ohio.
Long Array OF Counsel.
Mr. Brown was assisted in the examins-
tion by Frank Lyon. special attorney 10
the Interstate Commerce Commission. and
J. 2. Miller. the chief accountant. while
francis s. James. Of Chicago. was present
as the representative OF the Shippers AS
ISOLATION Of Chicago, an organization Of
four hundred mercantile concerns, and the
National Industrial Traffic League; Louis
D Brandeis. Of Boston. represented an
other group of shippers, and Clifford
Thorne attended as counsel for the Iowa.
Farmers Cooperative Grain Dealers As
sociation and the CornbeIt Meatpackers
Association.
Other representatives Of shippers TO be
heard are Z. E. Williamson, commissioner
of the Packers and Shippers Association.
Cincinnati: II. c. Barlow. traffic director Of
the Chicago Association of Commerce; Z.
J. NJ. Van. Commercial Club. Omaha;
z. T. Bell. commissioner of freight. Sioux
City. Iowa: Joseph kearney, manager
Freight Shippers Bureau. Indianapolis.
and r. B. Montgomery manager Jnterna
tiona Harvester Company, Chicago.
As there are so many witnesses TO be
heard and the subject is OF such impor-
tance, Mr.. Brown expects the hearings to
continue in this city for two weeks They
will he continued at the Waldorf this morn
ings 10 o'clock. After the sessions in this
city there will be another hearing in Chi
cago for additional proof from the West
ern roads The burden Of proof TO sup
port the Justice of the advance IN rates
rests on the railroads. In the mean time
the new rates are held up, pending the de-
cision Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, and the old rates prevail. It is said
that 4I3 transportation lines will be sf-
fecred by the outcome of the hearing.
Shows Big Increase in Wages.
At the opening Of the hearing yesterday
Clyde Brown, of the New York Central
Lines. presented statement for carriers
operating 5055i miles of railroad The
statement showed that since January l,
1903. there had been wage increases amount
ing TO s34 1858. while it was estimated
that the new freight rates would mean an
in revenue of only $2GG31,445 Ieav-
ing deficit of s7.725,O75.
!. T Leary. president and general
Of the Baltimore & Ohio. was the
first witness called. lie testified that the
r.ew rates would increase the revenue
81, ,S0s. .1O7 while the increase in wages on
his system was $2,370. 2233-
What are you going 10 do with the
other s@37,GN0 increase over the advance III
wages" asked y. B. James.
1T Will be used TO buy materials OF varI-
Gus kinds" Mr.. LeaTy said.
Mr.. James anted quotations Oh steel
rails and wanted a comparison with the
prices in other years, so that the railroads
could make coed 10 the commission their
% increased cost of supplies
Mr. Lleary could not furnish the quotatiuns .
or comparisons. and Chief Examiner Brown
ruled that statement showing the IN
crease Fl the cost Of materials should be
produced It was ruled also that Nj.
Leary should produce a statement showing
the wage increase on the Baltimore e Ohio
in the last ten years, and comparing with
it the increase in the net earnings and the
CrGSS earnings.
Asks 8. & o. TO Explain.
Frank Lyon, counsel for the commission. I
asked MIR. Leary 10 explain the difference