The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-07-29
STATE HAS
RAILROADS
ON THE HIP
TIMES BUREAU,
AT STATE CAPITAL.

TIMES BUREAU,
AT STATE CAPITAL.
Indianapolis. Ind, July EFT begins
to look like the Indiana Railroad Com
mission has the railroads OF the state
on the hip and that it will win the
fight which is now going on with them
over the effort of the railroads to in
crease from 25 cents to 35 cents the
minimum freight charge on single
shipment Not long ago the railroads
fed with the commission, as required
by law, a new tariff sheet showing that
this rate to become effective on
July /. There was a loud objection on
the part OF many shippers in various
parts of the state. some of them COM
ing from South Bend. Fort Wayne and
other places in which wholesale
groceries and manufacturers of small
articles are located. These wholesaler
and manufacturer took the position
that the increase would be unjust and
that 1t would have a serious effect on
their business. And on top OF all of
this the commission Itself took advant-
| age of the now provision in the rail-
road commission law which gives the
commission power to institute proceed
| ings on its own motion. Under the old
law the commission did not have this
l
.ngs to lower a rate when 1t regards 1t
MS too high or 20 issue an sus-
pending any new rate which railroad
proposes to put into effect.
| So the commission issued order
suspending the operation of this pro-
posed increase in the minimum freight
rate until hearing could be held to
determine VIII elhar 1t was just or un-
lust. This hearing was postponed once
or twice. br. 1t has been set for July
81, and the commI ssion has notified the
ra roads to get ready to meet thu IS
Sue. Attorneys and traffic officials OF
all railroads doing business in the state
have held several meetings here to
decide on .-urse of action to be fol-
loved at the hearing. The last dace.
lire was held ere Monday.
The roads have made three attempts
to induce tn commission to allow the m
to withdraw the new tariff, but vice
the corair.ss,tn tas refused to grant
tie request. The commission is de-
te7mined that he question shall be de-
termined for god.
| 1. now de seiopes that it need not
cause any surprise if the railroad re-
fuse to appear at the hearing or 20
offer any defense in the proceedings
instituted by the commission to set
aside the increase. 1t is regarded as
rroha BILE now that the roads will per-
NIT the commission to make o-rma-
lre:t Its order against the proposed In
crease, trusting tc the iterstate corr
mer.e commission which al % has the
lqueetion under consideration, to per
nit the change on interstate traffic,
with such a finding from the intersta;e
commerce commission, the roads en-
gagged in traffic within the state. it Is
said. would be in better position to Ct
before the state commission and plead
for the increase here.
| On Monday a committee composed 81
IS. c. Pickens. representing the Penn
, syivania lines. Edward Burton, of the
Baltimore and Ohio, and Mr.. Webster
, of she freight departms.st of The Nicke
Plate road, called on the Commission
to a,e a third request that the roads
be allowed to withdraw the new tariff
The commission promised to give th'
iconlr1ittee a definite ar-wer by today
but Il is held that in tie light OF tn
two former refusals that ne commits
sion will decline to gram the third re
lquest and prepare for the herring oil
fJulv 81. A withdrawn, of the rule
: and the tariff sheets would prevent tn
! commission taking the matter to
. Hearing, which appears to be what TIL
u railroads are anxious to bring about
This is the first case brought by tn
state commission under the new iay
which gives 1t power to initiate in
ivestigations concerning rate matters
AFTER the state commission had he'll
Up the proposed tariffs the interstat
commerce commission made orde
holding up the proposed increase
| n,
when hearing is to be held in tina
body, and the railroads are anxious t
stop action by this and other state
until the national body has made de
i cision.
Persons who have given the questio
thought believe they see the hand Q
the express companies in the propose
I increase. The minimum charge 70
carrying small freight packages a
| we'll as the minimum charge for carry
ing express packages is the same, 9
cents. 1t Is held that IL the railroad
i increase their minimum rate to
cents. 1T would result in one of tw
+ things either the express companie
would Increase their minimum charg
or virtually all small packages woul
be shipped by express.
Either step would be equally ba.
b 1t is said. Should the traffic in sma
packages be thus diverted to the Ell
press companies, 1t Is shown. 1t wou|
Il mean a considerable loss to the raj
i road in freight earnings. and a CO..
d responding difficulty on the part OF III
4 commission in compelling the installs
B ton Of safety devices and other In
u provements. as 1t would give the roat
d additional ground for alleging povert
u Another effect, 1t Is said, would be