The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-14
QUICK DECISION
0NRATESDENlED.
Commerce Board Announces
Hearings Won't Close
on April q.
PRODDING IS RESENTED
Collateral Questions May Be
Taken Up After the
Argument.
RAILROADS DISAPPOINTED
They Are in Dark Now Regard
ing Date Of the Final
Decision.
RAILROADS DISAPPOINTED

WARRINGTON, April Ian announce
nent made by the Interstate Commerce
Commission late this Afternoon does not
offer much encouragement to the Eastern
railroads In their plea for quick action on
Shs petition for a 5 per cent. increase In
freight rates.
The commission reiterates the recent
statement Of Chairman Harlan that ar.
Cument will be heard on April ~ on Ger
cain features Of tho case and adds that
collateral questions raised by the commits
sion is,eN win be taken up later u neees-
sary.
No statement could be obtained at the
commission As to the probable date for q
Ansl decision In this important case ana
people here have just about given up try
lng to guess when the commission Will be
ready ID hand down . nnai decision.
The carriers had hoped that after the
arguments beginning April ~ they would
speedily get relief without further discus
siou or hearing Tho announcement to-
day - understood TO have been caused by
pressure that has bean exsrted from many
sources and IN supposed to be strong IN
tmation by the commission that IL VIII
not be unduly hurried.
While the commission has expedited the
Argument in the advance rate case this
has been done with the explanation that IL
win later take up such questions as liter
age. FREE switching, spottage, storage and
so-caiied "free allowances with the view
Of sscertaining II the carriers by changing
their practices and stopping leaks In
revenues may not be able to make up the
requisite additional income without fiat
increase In rates.
The Announcement.
This is tho announcement of the COM
mission:
Pursuant to the announcement hereto
fore made the Interstate Commerce Cam
mission will hear arguments In these cases
(that instituted BY the commission and
that flied by the carriers when they sub.
mitted tariffs asking for an Increase OK
per cent. in rates) on April 81, 1914, by
which time also all briefs touching the
issues involved must be filed.
'sThe argument will embrace all tine
questions presented on the record. That
part Of the record that deals WIN the
financial condition and requirements OF
the carriers and with the rat hc1r;es
,.,ier suspension In tho proceeding II nov
closed except as to such exhibits as have
been requested OF record and except NJ 20
the replies from the carriers to the ques-
tions touching their financial condit on
and requirements submitted by the con-
mission in it's circular letter Of December
20. 1913
III VIII DC UNDERSTOOD. however. tntt
the record will not be closed as to the
related matters involved in the inquiry
instituted by the commission until 'ae
replies OF the carr u n IN tnese questions
submitted by the commission In Its oi''
cular letters OF Dscemrer 90, 1919. AMI
February 26. 1914. have been filed the
investigations by the commission In CON-
rection therewitn. now approaching corn
pletion, have been placed on record and
until the hearings now in contemplation
upon these last mel-uled matters have
BEEN had"
Contents Of the Circnlars.
The circular of - .,tmber 30 referred
70 BY the commission O. insists OF a iis' OF
seventy-eight quest! ,ns and sub-uuestions
relating to the financitl requirements, cost
Of material and Other railroad statsticq
The circular OF February 20 calls for da "a
IN regard TO the collection and delivery OF
freight, the transportation Of containers.
storing OF freight. the furnishing or paw
ing for wharfage or dockage and refrie
tration serv cc.
elaborate get of statistics from the rail-
roads and II is understood that only a
part OF these replies Is now In. although
the railroads have been working on them
for many weeks.
The commissions announcement means
will be confined to the query propounded
by the commission
sDO the present rates Of trRnspO rtation
Yield 10 common carriers by railroads
operating In official classification terri
tory adequate revenuesf"
When this question has been settled
the commission will take up the second
query propounded by 1t. which Is.
"If not, what general course may car.
1ters pursue TO meet the situationr"
The Method Of RELIEF.
In other words, II the commission de-
cides at the conclusion OF the coming
arguments that the railroads must have
more revenues they Will then take up the
question whether the carriers ARE to in
crease their resources by charging for
services now performed free ana by
changes In methods and practices or
through decision of the commission
itself permitting a nat increase In freight
rates
The commission has already covered
much ground in It's invest CATION OF these
collateral questions. 1t already has
ordered IA discontinuance of so called free
services, which will increase the revenues
OF the railroads $4,000. 900 n year
II has also undertaken an inquiry into
l'ghterase spotting and switching and
n other similar directions