The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-30
RAILROAD MEN REPLY
TO THORNE TO-DAY
Will Answer Charge That Ac-
counts Were Altered to Ma
nipulate Stock Values.
RATE PLEA DENOUNCED
Spokesman for Middle Western
States Repeats Attack
on Carriers.
RATE PLEA DENOUNCED

Commission tomorrow opportunity will
DO given for the Eastern trunk limo rail-
way companies to make answer to the
statement regarding the alleged injustice
Of their plea for an increase OF freight
rates embodied In the statement OF Cliff
ford c. Thorne Of Iowa. who is acting as
the spokesman for the State railway COM
missions Of eight middle Western States.
Mr.. Thorne in his statement. which is
appended. criticises the railroads Of the
East and reflects upon tho integrity Of
their figures and tho statistical infor-
nation which they have furnished here
tofore to the commission.
The issue has been clearly drawn by
MIR. Thorne. lie has alleged that by skill
full manipulation Of the books OF the rail-
ways 1t has been made to appear that dur
ing the past four years the maintenance
account has increased In such a ratio
and At such rate per cent as TO make
the rate Increases obligatory. He further
charges that for the years prior to the
last four, the railways have been engaged
In studious effort to starve their main
tenance account with view to making
better showing In quarterly. semi-annual
and annual statements. This. he says. was
done for the purpose Of manipulating stock
values with a view to making railway
financiering easier In the boom time OF
the first decade Of this century.
Mr.. Thorne. when he made his presen-
taton of his case against the railroads.
was on the stand for five days under an
exhaustive examination. but not before
one OF the commission. At to-norrow's
hearing opportunity will be afforded for
the exhaustive investigation OF the
charges that he has made.
II is expected BY the railway commits
sioners OF the West and the shippers OF
that region that the fight of the Eastern
lines for rate increases. II won, will lie
followed at once by an effort on the part
OF the Western lines 10 obtain similar
advances
At to-morrow's hearing. when the con-
tention of the Eastern railroad men will
be explained. the hearing will be con-
Quoted Oh the part of the railways by
George stuart Patterson. general counsel
OF the Pennsylvania Railroad President
Daniel willard. head Of the committee OF
Eastern railroad men. will attend. An will
also Nlce-President Shriver OF the Balti
more and Ohio. Hugh Bond. vice-presldent
and general counsel OF the Baltimore and
Ohio: George F. Brownell. vice-presiden;
and general counsel Of the Erie. and A. II
Smith. vice-president and general coun.
sci Of the Vanderbilt lines.
Regarding the contentious which he
will be called on to defend tomorrow
Mr.. Thorne said tonight:
Clifford Thorne's ss~nt.
IL have been asked by the representa-
tive OF a Western newspaper to state what
comments. II any. / had to make on the
discharge OF $4,000 men by the Pennsyl-
vsnia Railroad and $4,000 by the New
York Central. announced Saturday. at
hsaa rn ho nd,
pending before the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
II sincerely trust that the exploitation
OF the discharge OF these men has not
been done for the purpose OF influencing
the commission. II these acts are done at
this particular time for the Lurpose OF
influencing the decision In this case one
way or the other and II that Is tine OBJ
Ject in view in taking OFF some sixty pas
senger trains and removing other facilities
which will seriously discommodc the pub
lie. then these are very effective methods
or browbeating this Misunderstanding
more and nothing less. OF West such
methods are OLD and familiar.
81 do not claim that is he object I
hope sincerely that it is not the object
and that these gentlemen 60 rot hope to
influence this distinguished tribunal In
that manner. Gov. .arrabee, one OF the
pioneers in the movement for INTELLIGENT
railroad regulation. described in his book
e. " ''',.' IN w" SO. uetan precisely
So, 'a.'''s' which were useu IN 'Ae
Va '""H '"'"''-"'c !eHs ago
Va nun" Oiten MADE.
Claims OF pending disaster and r,i,
have been repeatedly used 10 inf,usnc.
public tribunals A well merIted rebuk.
was once given by the Sunren. Cn,,r, n,
the United States in the following words .
"'Disuster to business ara uJJ..,ro.d
financial ruin. II has been ;nt,natsd n,,,
follow tho execu,io, ~ a., Or s,I -.
act) provisions Sucb nredic,,n,s , 70
made in all cases her.tn,nr., arisi,,,. -.
that act hut they hav. no, h.n, ,,o.,a.
II IN tho bis,orv ~ nnna,o,,aa ' -.
country and In Enu,and H., a, inns
OF ruin are hahi,uaIiv ,naS. a., ,,o.,
wben I, 10 .,,omn,aa 49, 'honi
restr.in th.ir onarst;a ns.atIoi' 70
III n,,h,,, ,,,,.. 80 a'u " protect
.rr sn,,,ri,i,,, ca,'nt 'ro' .n'
- company w. - o. ~ u o.
.,,r,,,, ..,-... - -..,.
,i,.,'s,,''s n "e,o Nl''.eh Dy Iha' ais
80. u Nu'asous Justice inc
..r,, "o,, We. suati fiariati'
'an'. ,o'oV' men ooes NOT
:, ,'.', RAJ. al issue IN this
ssinpi. p,oses .ne coIossal power
s',,t ',.'. ','a. ean throw ao,Voo poor
..''''' ny VI tne .heihs oI udiiy susie
n .anoe' We hhe" t,ey had this power