Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-03-30
.THORNE DIS
CUSSES RAIL:
ROAD RATES
Gives Some Reasons Why Charges
of Western Railroads are
High Enough.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE
Revenue of Western Roads Greatest
in Past Five Years in Their
History.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE

Chicago, March 30.--Following is
the opening statement of Clifford
Thorne before the interstate com
merce commission today:
During the past four weeks this
Commission has heard the testimony
offered by the officials of western
railroads, in favor of an increase in
their transportation charges.
We will now present to you the
evidence on behalf of the producers
shippers, and consumers of this west
ern part of the nation.
AS indicating conditions in the
territory involved, the testimony OF
only three chief executives, the pres
idents of the Chicago Great Western
Railroad, the Missouri Pacific Rail
way, and the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas Railway was introduced.
Nothing further need be said. This
Commission and the public knows
whether they represented typical
lines or weaklings. This procedure
is in marked contrast to that pursu-
ed by the eastern railroads, where
the chief executives of the represent
tatives of the representative lines
testified.
We will show you that three
fourths of the traffic in this territory
is being handled by companies that
are earning above all operating ex-
penses, and all interest on bonds
and debt, from six to sixteen percent
on all their capital stock outstand-
ing in the hands Of the public.
Heretofore the railroads have
been far better equipped than the
shippers in cases involving rates;
but in the present case the commits
sions of sixteen western states, in
compliance with state laws, have
secured the services of an eminent
corps of expert accountants and sta
tisticians, and are looking after the
interests of the public.
Joined with the commissions are
the representatives of upwards of
100000 grain dealers, manufacture
ers, stockmen, and other producers.
and consumers, scattered throughout
the territory.
Never before has there been such
an extensive organization on behalf
Of the public in any case.
1t is not necessary for us to pa
rade glazing, sensational incidents
of high finance or questionable acts.
1t is a -blooded business propo-
sition. The famous Gould printing
press scandal, where they made
Erie stock over night, an Incl
dent that will probably be famous
for all time, only involved some
$23, 100000
The present movement for in
creased freight and passenger rates
AANoANSo CfSl OIL LlAuCo lldI quill VI
money, not just at one time, but ev-
cry year, now and in the future, for
this and future generations to pay.
The impression has been given
that railroads have not been able to
maintain their properties during re-
cent years; that they have been COM
PEELED to retrench so severely that
the public has been injured, as well
as the railroad properties. This is
true as to some railroads, but we
will show you it is absolutely I'M
true as to western railroads as a
whole. AS in all business, there ara
temporary periods of depression
when the railroads as a whole, in
Guiding both the strong and the
weak lines, are compelled to re-
trench in their expenses for a time
1t will be conclusively proven to you
that these western carriers eXpend-
ed in 1914 in maintaining their
PS,cuV pea IliiC VI 4tiC,
which was greater than in any other
year in their history.
1t will be proved that the rail-
roads in western territory as whole
have actually expended in maintain
ing their properties during the past
five years an average of $50, 900
a year more than for any preceding
five year period since the first rail-
road was built in this territory. Ev-
cry railroad witness who took the
stand admitted on cross examination
that they were maintaining their
properties at higher standard dur
ing recent years than ever before.
It will be shown to you that the