The Coconino sun., 1911-10-27
WORK ON WOOL RATES
Secretary Arizona Railway Commission Putting in Hard Work on Rates
 for ArizOna's Wool Product

ton hnOW our DuSluGSS HdS DSGH suffering during the past few years probably more than any other in dustry in the west. This condi- ton was brought about by various causes, among them being the persistent agitation of the wool tariff and the increased cost of producing our wool.
 In former years, when business was good and the wool growers were prosperous, little attention was paid to these matters, but of recent years, as the profits grad ually diminish, they are compelled to figure every item of expense as closely as possible and to retrench wherever there is an opportunity,
 The Arizona Wool Growers Association has been trying for several years to secure reasonable freight rates on wool from Arizona points to Boston and Philadelphia but, although some concessions have been made by the railroads, no real substantial results have been secured.
 Early last spring, the matter was referred to the National Wool Growers Association and to E. s. DePass, Secretary of the Arizona Railway Commission. DePass showed a great deal of interest in the subject and immediately got in touch with V. O. Johnson, of Shoshone, Idaho, attorney for the National Association. DePass and Johnson met in Washington, D. C., last March and drew up and filed with the Interstate Com merce Commission, a complaint against the railroads, attacking the wool rates from Arizona and all the western wool producing points to the eastern markets.
 Since that time, DePass has had charge of the case for the Arizona wool growers and he has shown by his untiring energy, zeal and hard work, coupled with his thorough knowledge of rate mat ters, that the wool growers have in him not only real friend, but one who is looking out for their interest at every stage of the con- test. He outlined to the minutest particular, the line of testimony that should be introduced by the witnesses for our association at the hearing of the complaint, and as result of his good work, the Arizona testimony, as introduced at the Albuquerque hearing, was more thorough and complete in detail than that introduced at any of the other herings held in the West.
 DePass attended the first hear ing, held in Chicago on September 9th to oth, inclusive, and we have been informed by others who were present that he was on the job all the time, and that at one stage of the proceedings, when an effort was being made to secure certain advantages to Chicago interests, which would have worked to the injury of Arizona wool growers, DePass made such strong stand against it that the effort was abandoned.
 At the Albuquerque and Phoe- nix hearings, DePass took the witness stand and introduced testi- mony and statistical tables of such value that nearly every one pres- ent spoke of them in the highest terms. At Phoenix, he went through a most grilling cross examination by the railroad attor- neys and held this own in such manner as to show conclusively that the Arizona Railway Commis- sion has, in its secretary, one of the ablest traffic men and rate experts in this section of the country.
 Mr. V Q IohuSon attorpev in