The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-31
SHIPPERS REPLY
TO ROAD DEFENSE
Clifford ThOrne, Chairman of Iowa Rail-
road Commission Appears Before
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion in Behalf of Shippers.

Chicago, March 3l.--ClilIord Thorne,
chairman OF the Iowa railroad commits
sion, in behalf Of the protesting shippers
in the western railroad freight rate
hearing outlined before Interstate Com
merce Commissioner w. M. Daniels yes.
terday the opposition Of the shippers to
the fright rate increases proposed by Al
western railroad systems.
The railroads are seeking to have pres
ent rates increased on certain commodi-
ties, which, they assert, at present do
not yield them a fair profit. The to-
tai increases, if granted according to
the railroads, would increase their rev.
enue Sl0,000,000 a year.
The railroads have been presenting
their side of the case since March 4. Mr..
| Thorne's statement at the hearing yes
terday was the beginning of the ship
pers' case. He said;
| During the past four weeks this
commission has heard the testimony Of
| fered by the officials Of western rail-
roads, in favor of an increase in their
transportation charges, aggregating mil
lions of dollars annually.
"We will now present to you the evil
dence on behalf of the producers, ship
pers, and consumers of this western
part of the nation.
"Our object is not to make a general
onslaught upon the credit Of these west
| ern railroads The result of our efforts
will be rather to help establish the
soundness and strength of their cred
lie.
"As indicating conditions in tho ter
ritory involved, only the testimony OF
the presidents of the Chicago Great
Western railroad the Missouri Pacific
railway and the Missouri, Kansas g. Tex
as railway was introduced. Nothing fur
Their need be said. This commission
and the public knows whether they rep
resented typical lines or weaklings. This
procedure il in marked contrast TO that
pursued by the eastern railroads; where
the chief executives of the representa-
tive lines testified
1--WE will show You that three-fourths
Of the traffic in this territory is being
handled by companies that are earning,
above all operating expenses, all taxes
and all interest on bonds and debt,
from six to sixteen per cent on all their
capital stock outstanding in the hands
OF the public
Heretofore the railroads have been
far better equipped than the shippers
in cases involving rates; but IN the pres
ent case the commissions Of sixteen west
ern states, in compliance with state
laws. have secured the services of an
eminent corps OF expert accountants
and statisticians, and are looking after
the interests Of the public.
COINED with the commissions are the
representatives of upwards of 100000
manufacturers, merchants, grain dealers,
live stock dealers, 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.
'In the gathering OF this material,
every courtesy possible has been extend
ed TO us by all the railway companies,
with only one exception.
"We will demonstrate to you some
mistakes in the figures offered by the
railroads. We do not call them misrep-
reservations, for all of us are liable TO
err at times. Some Of these errors are
small and of little Importance; while
Others are basic and fundamental.
ut is not necessary for us to parade
glarng, sensational incidents of high
finance or questionable acts. II is a
cold blooded business proposition. The
famous Gould printing press scandal,
where they made Erie stock over night,
an incident that will probably be IA
nous for all time, only involving some
So, 0000 600
"rhe present movement for increased
freight and passenger mates involved
several times that sum Of money, not
Just az one time, but every year, and
now in the future, for this and future
generations 20 pay.
"The impression has been given that
railroads have not been able TO maintain
their properties during recent years, that
they have been compelled 10 retrench
so severely that the public has been
injured. as wen as the railroad proper
ties. This is true as TO some railroads, |
but we will show Won Il Is absolutely /
untrue as 60 western railroads as
whole. AZ in ell business, there are
temporary periods Of depression when
the railroads a. a whole, including both /
the strong and the weak lines, are CON-
PEELED 20 retreneh in their expenses for
: time. II will be- conelusiFely proven 4
10 YOU that these western carriers ex.
pended in 1914 in maintaining their prop /
critics ~ 500 per mile Of line, which was
greater than In any other year in their
1T win BE- proved that the railroads
in western territory a. a whole have /
actually expended IN maintaining their
properties during the last Eve years 4
an average of sJ0mo0p0 a year more
than for any preceding Eve year period
since the fret railroad was bulk in this /
territory. Every railroad witness vho
took TIE stand admitted on cross exam
nation that they vcre maintaining their
properties - . higher standard during
recent wears than ever before.
ID VIII b. shown 20 sou that TIE De-
dine IN tie percentage Of op-uting in-
ene on property Investments, upon
nhi,h tl.s aarriers are relying - strong
.r. results from change in the system
81 seraurtinr. and not from any operat-
rs condition..
During the year 1914 90 Ell people
.usw ftsrs w.as , uarla wide business