Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-01
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion May Act Earlier Than
Was Planned.
DISPOSITION OF QUESTION
FIRST CONSIDERATION NOW
Railroads May Forego Arguments
and Decide Only to Submit
Briefs.

A decision by the interstate commerce
asked by the eastern railroads is expected
much earlier than had been planned. It
may be handed down within a month.
Recent developments have impelled the
commission to put aside collateral issues
and extraneous questions and devote
practically its entire time to the rate
question.
Such questions as spottdng car charges.
free services of various kinds and SINH
lar propositions that have been consid-
cred with the application Of the roads,
it was understood today, will not be per-
mitted to interfere further with funda-
mental proposition of rate increase.
1t is the purpose Of the commission to
expedite in every possible way final
disposition of the case, and to that end
continuous hearings will be held until
tine testimony shall have been concluded.
That may occupy several days.
May Eliminate Arguments.
1t is expected then that the case may
be submitted, either on briefs. which
now are practically prepared, and without
oral argument or on briefs with only
short arguments.
Counsel for the railroads already
have indicated that they may waive
their right to argue the case orally and
submit It on briefs. They have in some
instances expressed their willingness
to stand on the evidence adduoed.
1t is believed to be not unlikely that
the commission itself may make an
the disposition Of the case. The grant
ing of the request Of the railroad coun-
sci yesterday to devote today and to.
morrow to testimony. although that
important matters which had been as
signed for hearing, was taken to in
dictate the commissions desire to facili.
tate the rate case in its fundamental
aspect.
The method of procedure outlined is
said to be most unusual According to
information obtained today. it is the
purpose of the commission to postpone.
for the present consideration of the
car-spotting charge, free services rem
dered by railroads to shippers and
similar side issues Of the rate advance
case. but not to abandon them.
Says Roads Are in Plight.
When the hearing was resumed to-
day before Chairman Harlan and Com
missioners Clements and McChord,
President Delano of the Monon ex-
planned in detail from charts he had
prepared the plight in which the
roads of central freight association
territory today find themselves"
President Smith of the New York Cen
trail described the financial situation on
that system, dwelling at some length on
the necessity with which he said the sys-
tenn had been confronted of laying off
longtime and experienced employees and
of curtailing expenditures in improve
ments.
Since September, 1913" said President
Smith, I'VE have been forced to reduce
our operating force by 1880 men. In
February of this year, as compared with
February of last year, We had $4,000 less
men. v" -..
"Our gross revenues in 1918 we're $40 COO
600 more than they were in 1910. yet our
net income was $3.2S4.O 600 less than it was
in 1910. before we had put the immense
amount of new capital into the property"
In response to an inquiry, President
Smith said that of the total Of $159, 000,-
GOO new capital put into the system since
1910, only $16,O0O,OOO had gone into the
new terminal facilities and Grand Cen
trail station in New York city.