The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-10-24
Gets Admission the Figures
Are pure Guess
work"
FACTS mot IN LINE
WITH ESTIMATES"
Wright Cross-Examined by
Commerce Commission
Lawyer

Washington, Oct. 24-Louis Brandies
counsel for the interstate commerce com
mission. attacked the figures OF railroad
statistics, upon which the eastern rail
roads are asking increases in freight
rates <cause of the European war
when the hearing on the rate case was
resumed esterday and demanded an OPP
portunity to cross examine the men who
prepared them.
"These estimates" said Mr.. Brandeis
appear absolutely out of line of what
might have appeared to be the fact" He
demanded that figures on which the esti-
mates were founded be produced that
some test as to their accuracy" might be
applied The railroad men have been
presenting tables TO show decreases in
earnings and injury to credit because
of the final exigency arising from the
European conflict. Robert c. Wright, of
the Pennsylvania Railroads traffic de-
partment, described the method OF reach
ing the estimates presented. He testi-
fled under examination that they were
trough and not founded on comptroler's
figures" He insisted however, that the
losses described were large enough, even
Optimistic"
u have been told it would take five
hundred men ninety days to give them
accurately" said he.
Mr. Brandeis put Wright through
strenuous examination as to how each
estimate had been reached and caused
the witness to admit that some of the
conclusions were pure guess work"
George NJ Shriver vice president for
accounting OF the Baltimore & Ohio sys,
TEN, was recalled to explain estimates he
had furnished to be considered in the
totals for the carriers of the district Mr..
Brandeis took the witness through much
testimony at previous hearings, bringing
out numerous suggested savings and
sources OF increased revenue, which Mr..
Shriver admitted had not been consid.
cred The witness said the estimates
We're sketchy, many of the rates on
which they were based having been re-
ceived only last night. He maintained
that omissions however, would not sub
stantially effect the result
Samuel Rea, president OF the Pennsyl- |
wanna system, was the first witness
called yesterday. His testimony was
similar 10 that OF previous witnesses Tor |
the roads setting out that decline OF 81 |
per cent. in gross earnings for the fiscal
year Of 1914 and of six per cent for the
months Of July and August of this year.
by conditions brought
about by the war in Europe, made inn
mediate relief necessary.
The war had resulted in special ag
,ravation OF q situation peculiar 10 the
a situation which had already
leen adjudged as in need OF relief the
witness said. Increased cost Of main.
enance and increased property invest.
nent had reduced the net operating in
ONE, he said and the war had now
presented the probability Of large in.
resses in the interest rates which must
'e paid on new capital. The record OF
heir financial statements clearly showed
omething to BE- radically wrong with
b. underlying conditions Of railroad
usness. he said and urged that immc
late treatment was necessary ION the
roadest possible scale within the pow.
- OF the commission