Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-29
EXPECTED THAT INCREASE WILL
BE DENIED BY COMMERCE
COMMISSION.
COUNSEL ALLOTTED EIGHT
HOURS BY AGREEMENT
Decision Expected to Follow Closely on
Closing Arguments of Attorneys-
George S. Patterson, General SoIici-
tor Of Pennsylvania, Contends In
creases Not Unreasonable.

Washington, Oct. 29.--It is now ex-
pected that the interstate commerce
commission will deny the request OF
railroads in eastern trunk line terri
tory for 8 per cent horizontal in
crease in freight rates.
The decision may be handed down
mediately after the close of the ar
guments. which began today.
1t is said that the railroads request
will be denied for these reasons:
First-That there Is no law under
which the commission can grant an in
crease in rates In order to obtain a
psychological effect, either in the bus
mess world or the investment world,
Second-That the carriers have
shown only that there has been a de-
cline in business since the war started.
and there is no law which empowers
the commission to make up for that de-
cline by ordering their customers to
pay more for future services.
Third-That the carriers have not
shown to the commissions satisfac-
tion that they accepted in good faith
the decision in the per cent case
handed down on Aug. i last.
Eight Hours For Argument.
| BY agreement among counsel eight
| hours were allotted for argument
| to be evenly divided between the sides
and the case will be subiait;ed at moor
| tomorrow.
| George S. Patterson, general solicito,
N y
the argument for the carriers. statins
the case in a general way. He was
followed by counsel for other lines
each of whom dealt with specific com
modities on which increased rates arS
asked or with the financial position
of individual lines.
In opposition Clifford rhorne, repre-
senting many shippers organizations
and several western states railroad
| commissions, was prepared to address
| the commission and be followed by
| counsel for the shippers of the Chica go
| district, for Pennsylvania coal pro-
! ducers, and for lumber shippers. Louis
| d. Brandeis, special counsel for the
commission was ready to close the
! case for the opposition.
| Mr.. Patterson contended that the in.
| be reasonable.
Would Divorce Wall Street.
In deciding the present case the com
mission, it is declared, advise the rail
roads to break off relations with Wal
| street entirely.
1t will strongly recommend that TIL,
roads be operated as railroads and no
as adjuncts of banking firms.
1t will promise the heartiest cooper
alton with every road which is willn,
to be operated on this basis and thi
basis alone.
! 1t will refer to the decision in the re
| cent advanced rate case, and again vii
call the attention of the carriers to th
| recommendations made in that decs
| ion for their benefit.
IT will point out where these recon
mendations have been ignored.
| 1t is said the commission is going t.
| say that the roads, so far as their rep
utations and their finances are con
cerned, are in bad way But it vii
not admit that the proper way to i'm
| prove the regulations and finances Il
| to grant an increase in rates. The
cause Of the evil, according to the com.
| mission, is not to be found in the dc
crease of business. but in banking con
| trol