The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-11-02
be the most important decision ever
eminating from it.

emlnating from 1t.
The hearing was instituted at the
instance of shippers who arose in pro-
test when western railroads announced
that rates on fifty different commodi-
ties would be advanced. Opposition
10 this became general and the rail-
roads agreed not to put the new rates
into effect until the interstate COM
merce commission had conduced a
hearing at which the shippers should
be heard as to the fairness of the pro-
posed advances.
Hearings were held at Chicago and
New York. conducted at first bv an
examiner but later, owing to the para
mount importance of the case. Com
mfssioners Clark and Lane assumed
the duty. 1t took the shippers only a
few hours to introduce evidence.
Railway men admitted that the ad
vance in rates on the fifty commodi-
ties, which formed the basis of the
hearing. was merely an entering
wedge. the ultimate purpose being to
advance rates all along the line.
In a general way the argument pre-
sented by the railroads was that in
creased rates were necessary for the
following reasons:
Increased wages to employees.
Increased cost of maintenance and
operation.
Public demand for increased effic-
iency and expansion of TRANSFORMATION
facilities.
The position taken by the shippers
was that the railroads at present are
receiving a generous return ON their
Ant nd
things sought to show on cross ex-
animation that the low rate of earning
SHOWN in the statistics presented was
due more to over-capitalizatton than
to low rates.
During the examination Of Stanley
H. Johnson, assistant freight traffic
manager of the Rock Island road,
Commissioner Lane asked some point
ed questions
Il have found in my experience" he
said. that railroads find very little
difficulty in raising rates without much
justification. and at any time that they
may see fit. If there were no restraint
placed on the railroads could not the
roads advance the rates without end?''
"Of course. If the railroads were
utterly Indifferent to public opinion
e1ho "clc HUI u UOuS VI ldlI IllIlueu
men, the rates might be raised end
lessly, but this would not be done as
the roads only ask fair profit" re-
piled Mr.. johnson.
us it not a fact?" asked Commits
sioner Lane, that the present rate is
too high?"
This brought laugh from the crowd
during which the witness replied in
the negative.
In the course of his testimony Mr.
Johnson admitted that no general ad-
vances in rates ere made by the rail-
roads without agreement with their
competitors.
IF they did," he added, "it would
mean going out Of business"
Attorney Ellis, representing the Chi
cago, Milwaukee and ST. Paul railroad
introduced tables showing the effect
which the proposed advances would
have on traffic in South Dakota and
North Dakota. The tables showed that
the increased revenue on 1854 667 800
pounds Of wheat. coarse grain. -four
and other mill products would amount
to $245.676 His tables showed that
nearly half of the proposed increase,
which on all commodities he estimated
at S56S,000. nearly half would come
out of the farmers of the two Dako-
tas. Mr.. Ellis declared that while rail-
way rates have been standing still the
farmer has been earning $3.50 more
per acre from his farm. The road, he
declared, is asking only an increase
Of thirteen cents per acre for freight
charges on farm products.
That's not so bad" said the wit
ness. I'VE helped the farmer to get
that $3.50 and for our share We ask
only thirteen cents.