The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-02-19
Commissioner Harlan Says the
Decision Will Come within
Next Three Months.
SOME DATES ANNOUNCED
AS Well as Subjects or Features
to Be Considered by the
Commission.
snY AseeelArgn eaEss,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Decis-
ion by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission on the proposed freight rate
increases is expected to he reached
probably within three months and
certainly before the commission adj
journs for its summer recess on July
L. This announcement, substantially
made by Commissioner Harlan today.
He said:
Recognizing the public import
ance of an early disposition of the
problems before US here. the carriers,
shippers and the commission are u.s.
ing every effort to bring the hearing
to an early conclusion and there is
reason to think the record on the
main issues in the case may be closed
and the arguments had in time TO
enable the comm ission to dispose of
these questions before the summer
recess"
Commissioner Harlan explained.
that the commission had before it two
broad inquiries IN respect to tine
proposed advance:
Are the present revenues of the
carriers adequate?
If not, how may they be supple
mented?
'sWith respect to the first of these
Issues, the carriers have already OF
fered much testimony but their wit
nesses have not been cross-examined
nor have the Investigations by the
been completed. we are also adj
vised that certain shipping interests
will submit important testimony
touching the adequacy of the present
revenues Of carriers. In aid of an
understanding of the first question
and of proper solution CT the sec.
ond question, the commission. as /
explained at recent hearing, has al
ready addressed certain inquiries to-
carriers which they have not yet
been able to fully answer. Pending
the preparation by the railroads OF
their reply, we have been hearing
the protests of shippers against the
proposed increases in rates on GER
tain particular commodities in which
they deal or are otherwise interest \
ed"
1t is the desire of the COMMITTEES
to obtain from all interests informa-
ton as to what the charge should pc
for the placing of cars and for the
use of sidings and spurs. On March
and 5 the question CT a charge Tor
placing cars for loading on spur
tracks leading to coal mines ana
coke ovens Will he cons 'dered. That
Will include consideration OF the
cancellation by carriers of allow
ances to inustrial roads, to coal
compan .eS and to mime operators.
March Is and z have been reserved
for the hearing of the protest against
the proposed increases in coal rates
That part of the rate that pertains
to the proposed increases in lake
and rail rates will be heard at WASH
jngton on March IL. 10 and Ia. The
committee announced trat it has re-
ceived many resolutions from or
ganizations Of shippers and com
mercial bodies, advocating the pro
noeed advance In a circular letter
to the organizations the commission
points out that it IS now engaged IN
a comprehensive investigation on
special service performed by the
railroads for the hippers as bearing
upon the general question of an ad
vance. Recipients OF the letter are
requested TO reply to certain IN
quiries ereIeting to these spec. al SCI
vices and to have the replies in the
hands of the commission not latel
than March ..