Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-09
COMMERCE COMMISSION UNcOV
ERs METHODS LONG KNOWN
BY cUMMiNs.
EXPENSE ACCOUNTS BOOSTED
TO SHOW LOSS IN EARNINGS
Commerce Commission Experts Sub
stantiate Previous Claims Of Iowa
Senators-Fisures May Be Used in
Cummns' Reply to President Rip
Iey-itaIians and Greeks in Mines.
pecial to Ttmes.Republican.

special 70 L
Des Moines, Aug. 9.-Senator A. B.
Cummins yesterday had his attention
called 10 dispatches from Washington
stating that the experts in the inter
covered that the railroads are padding
the expense accounts in order to show
decrease net earnings. and that this
padding process has enormously in
creased since the agitation commenced
for higher freight rates.
The discovery ought not TO be sur
prising' said the senator. You VIII
recall that il was to. prevent just that
sort of thing that I asked the Iowa
legislature to revise the Iowa laws IN
I regard to railroad reports. Under that
I law we adopted uniform system OF
bookkeeping, or reporting. so that the
different roads would be on one basis
so far as reports to Iowa are con-
cerned. We found that some roads
would for instance charge up the cost
of a new bridge TO expense, another to
capital. and so on. There has been no
uniformity in the matter: but it is
certain that the railroads have sys-
tematically sought TO conceal their
actual net earnings.
The interstate commerce commission
has found that in comparing the main
tenance OF way ana construction hs-
ures during the past ten months, the
Atchison road has figured out for ltseif
an increase of AZ per cent, the Alton
81 per cent, the Northwestern 33 per
cent. the Milwaukee % per cent, the
Rock Island 30 per cent, the Northern
Pacific 10 per cent the oregon Navlsa-
ton 30 per cent, and the Gulf and COL
orado 50 per cent. This is regarded as
mere jugglery of figures.
Senator Cumnins may make use ol
these figures in his reply which ne IS
nraparing to President Ripley of the
Atchison, who, thru the corpoTa'ioh
press has attacked Cunnlins. Ripley
Questions senator Cummins' statement
that in ten years the railroad issued
securities of the face value Of three
and a half billion dollars. He also in
sists that of the capitalization OF the
American railroads Of s1l.O0o,O Oo'-
GOA only $4,000 10000 is in the
hands of the people. Mr.. Ripley insists
tha- the capitalization of American
railroads is no more than actual cost
He accuses Senator Cummins Win
prosecuting the railroads.
Senator Cummins has stated very
many times his belief that the railroads
are centralized far beyond either theif
worth or the cost of replacement.
| The frantic effort of the corporation
nress to get Senator Cummins before
the country in the attitude OF PURIFY
selfish and Unfortunately am oltlous pei
son is becoming amusing Inc No
poration agents here sent 10 the me-
ocean and to other papers a remark
III. s+arv about the starting of boom
for Cunrnins for president, the least
remarkable part being that there was
not a single statement Of truth in H.
rna story was of a secret conference
of orogressives where it was decloeo
that Cumnltrs should be boosted for the
presidency. the change in his plans LOT
the summer because OF this fact, uhe
organization of press bureau 10 look
after the matter. receiving reports from
other states, etc.
As a. matter of fact none Of these
happened But this is true that the
senator has received SURPRISINGLY
large number of letters Of congraluia.
tior in regard TO the happy outcome OF
the Iowa convention and the harfaoillc
relations established with everybody.
a great many of the letters are CON-
pMmentary in the highest degree 10 une
senator and TO his great speech.
The senator hopes TO be able to 60
into Indiana and Wisconsin to aid the
republicans in those states. but Will
probably have TO give up his trip to
Washington state.
Italians and Greeks are crowding the
Welsh English and others out OF the
coal mines OF Iowa This Is the sur
uristng statement made by Rhys l.
Rhz-s. one OF the state mine inspectors.
He asserts that in southern Iowa there
are now hundreds of the Italians and
Greeks in the mines whereas Ie"
years ago they were Very rare Ihey
are not trained miners like the Welsn'
but take 1t UP without experience
There are also quite a number on Rus
SLAMS entering the mines or Iowa ana
they make good miners. The number
of colored men in the mines Is mol m
creasing. their number at Buxton nav
ing decreased by those who have come
into the Des Moines district.
THE general physical condition of
Iowa mines continued Mr.. Rhys, Is
better than ever before We have less
gas in Iowa than elsewhere and the
only trouble is with the roof"
$50
The state fair management has Sc
cured the services of the band at Cla-
rinda directed by Captain Landers for
four days at the state fair. This IS the
Fffty-fifth regiment band. better known
to Iowa people as the F'ifty-first regi-
ment band because of having gone to
the Philippines with that regiment
when 1t was known as the Fifty first
Iowa. This makes four big musical
ORGANIZATIONS for the fadr-the Weber
/ band Of Cincinnati. the Letter Carriers
Band, the Reed Regime ntal band Of
Sioux City and the Graham orchestra