Valdez daily prospector., 1914-05-09
MORE DATA TO
 AID RATE RULING
Railroads Seeking Increased
 Pay Must Give Details.
PROVISIONS FOR ECONOMY.

New Information Sought Includes Rev. enues Derived From Transportation of Different Commodities and Inter- locking Boards and Contracts-Sev- enty mine Questions Submitted. Washington. Railroads of the Unit ed States seeking authority to increase their freight rates on an average of o
 per cent are requested in an order is sued by the interstate commerce com mission to submit detailed information concerning their financial operations. An inquiry into the rate case was begun several weeks ago, and the rail
 roads told their side "The shippers who are fighting the proposed increase are yet to be heard. The commission has gone over the evidence submitted by the railroads and has asked for sup. plemental data.
 The commissions order issued does not foreshadow delay in the promulga' ton of decision in the application for authority to increase railroad freight rates. It indicates that the
 commission does not intend to decide the case merely on the ex parte state ments of railroad managers. The new information sought by the commission covers these questions: Revenues derived from the transpor tation of different commodities and the practice of the railroads in granting to shippers special service or allow ance in connection with transportation service.
 Economy in methods of purchasing equipment. materials and supplies, their uses and practices in connection with various transportation operations. Financial history and transactions of l carriers.
 Conflicting interests. particularly the ] financial interests of directors, officers and employees in the business transac- 1 tions to which the carriers are also parties.
 Contracts made between tue carriers
 and sleeping car and parlor car compa- , nies and the results of such contracts. 1 Also general information not em- ] braced in circulars heretofore issued ! by the commission.
 Seventy-nine questions bearing on 1 rates are submitted to the railroads. 1 The answers must be made before ] Jan. 31.
 "Elaborate and helpful contributions ! from the carriers accounts have been
 submitted by the railroads with view 1 to diminishing net returns from op- l erations and lessened net income" said the commission ill an announcement i explaining it's inquiry. '"These state
 ments do not furnish fully the data
 deemed by the commission to be neces- ] sary to determine the general course ! to be pursued. The carriers are there 1 fore further ordered and directed to furnish the commission at the earliest date possible the information called for and to verify such information
 under the oath of the officer under 1 whose direction and supervision the re i turns are made"
 The commission explains some of the l various groups of questions that are l asked carriers as follows:
 Questions regarding revenues and the conservation thereof are designed ! to secure data concerning. the possi l bility of increasing revenues other wise than through general increase of freight rates. The questions relate | in part to the terminal allowances made by railroads. particularly to the l l.. S,,J, ,,3n nd %n tho frAo CpFy- i ice, the legality or propriety of which has been from time to time question | ed. These services and allowances h. 1 clude allowances to terminal railways 1 owned by industries, free switching. iighterage. loading and unloading 1 freight. free warehousing. reconsign- ment, especially favorable rates and special train service. billing in transit
 privileges. .. Questions relative to economy are designed to secure data concerning the possibility of increasing the net reve- nues through economies in operations.
 These include possible savings in the purchase. of materials and supplies through standardization and otherwise: also possible savings in the use Of
 materials and supplies and particular 1 ly in the consumption of coal.
 There are also questions designed ] to secure further information as to the causes of increased operating costs and means of avoiding them. Certain of ! the questions are designed to secure data with view of determining to what extent and under what circum- stances the increase in the size and