Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-11-22
Officers of Railroad Company
Are Chief Witnesses, and
Testimony Takes Turn of
Explaining Statements,
DOBS0N TELLS OF
NEW MEXICO CENTRAL
GoodIy Crowd Of Spectators
Sit Through Dreay Day
Given Over to Evidence of
Highly Technical Character

llI5lIy ONlllllOUl OllNl ONAGl
So far as spectacular features are
concerned, the proceedings on the sec
ond day Of the hearing Of the rate
adjustment case brought by the New
Mexico Cooperation commission We're
about as exciting as the multiplica-
ton table.
The court room in the federal build
ing was fairly well filed during the
day, most of the spectators being Al
buquerque business men and members
Of the Commercial club who had vital
interest IN the outcome OF the case.
During the afternoon a number Of
ladies made their appearance, but the
prosaic nature Of the proceedings soon
wore on their nerves and they left for
more congenial surroundings.
From beginning to end 1t was
figures diagrams maps and charts,
with verbal evidence interspersed for
the purpose of explaining the charts
maps, diagrams and figures Identity
ing, verifying and filing the documents
In evidence took up by far the greater
part Of the day.
The only thing to throw a touch Of
human interest into the proceedings
was when Il. W. Dobson, attorney for
the receiver of the New Mexico Cen
trsl railroad, related the sad story Of
the misfortunes Of that corporation
and explained, as throwing light upon
the ability Of bis client to stand a cut
in rates, that the receiver had only
recently been forced 60 ask permission
Of the court TO borrow money to buy
I'm "a frtt
the road ln operation. The suppressed
pathos of Mr. Dobsons voice as he
told the sad story of a corporation
gone wrong was moving I'm the eX-
reme.
Every body connected with the hear
ing declared after the days session
Was over. that it would be finished to-
day. but II the same rate of speed is
observed that was kept up yesterday
there d good chance that the matter
Wiu De continued Wcll into next week,
Both sides TO the controversy used all
the time possible, and each accused
the other of beins responsible Tor the
delay
ON Thursday the hearing for the
most part Was taken up with the
recital by Individual shippers Of the
complaints that they had against the
alleged unfair freight rates In every
instance there was something human
something ndivdual-somethin to
interest the every day man. Yester-
day is was merely a battle of figures
THE states figures on one side and
the railroad companys figures on the
other
The hearing was begun at $3.50,
Examiner A. r. Mackley being in
cnarge Of tho proceedings in the
absence Of Commissioner Judson c,
Clements, who left the city on the
limited late Thursday afternoon. The
tfst witness was Corporation Com
missioner o. L. owen, who was on the
stand at the close Of the session the
day before
Mr. owen identified and filed as
exhibits a number of charts which
had been prepared by the state cor
poration commission. The purpose of
these charts was to illustrate COM
paratve rates between eastern points
ana New Mexico, and the same points
ana other localities approximately the
same distance away. Mr.. owen also
read from statistical sheet issued
Dy the Santa ne railway showing the
freight operating expenses of the rail-
road per mile over the various divi-
kons Of the system.
On discrimination Attorney
bleusoe 1or the railroad, sought to
snow that Mr. owen had not taken a
t9H pasls OF comparison in the rates
lliat ne had cited, and also led the
Wllhess into general discussion Of
the subject of blanket" rates and
rates fixed on q mileage basis. The
greater part of the morning session
mony.
Corporation Commissioner f. A.
Jones or Arizona, was the next Wit
ness IL had previously been eX-
planned that the special case brought
" lne Arizona commission would be
neard at a special meeting to be held
81 nlBhti and that on this hearing Mr..
1onVs wished to be examined as an
TlterFenor IN the New Mexico case, /
Juuse bledsoe objected to the eXami- |
nauoh OF Mr.. Jones' but his objection
was overruled.
MI Jones explained that the situa-
uOh I'D Arizona was practically identic-
a. "Hn mat in New Mexico. He eH-
pressed the opinion that the rates
were excessive, and declared that the
ionf and short haul clause of the
VVlnmerce law was being openly
violated He though the FL Paso rates
We're reasonable and that Arizona and T.
new Mexico points should be put on
that basis.
Mr Jones also was induced to ex-
Rresa bis opinion on the subject Of +
lanket' rates as against rates fixed
'n a mileage basis, and q lengthy
ersunent between him and counsel
.9r the railroad companies resulted. [
mf Jones favored the mileage basis, .
out admitted that there were practical 4
commercial considerations that In
some instances made the blanket rates
necessary
Inc conclusion OF Commissioner
zones evidence brought the hearing
~ 70 the time of the moon recess
nen the proceedings Were taken up Z
q 'he afternoon Judge Gawan an 4
"0uhced the case closed for the cem-l.