The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-13
Passenger Rate Hearins
Session in Topeka.
Twenty Witnesses Called on
Behalf of Railroads.
ON EXPENSE OF OPERATION
Transportation Cost introduced
as Evidence.
Thirty-Six Per Cent of Operat-
ing Time to Terminal.

Introduction of evidence in the pas
senger rate case before the public util-
tiles commission was resumed this
morning after a recess of two days
Early testimony this morning before
the commission went to the distribu-
ton of expense of operation in an ef-
fort on the part of the railroads to
prove that the two cent rate Is not re,
munerative and has not stimulated
traffic sufficiently to offset the loss IN
revenue and earnings.
Thirty-six per cent of the operating
time of a passenger train is charged TO
terminal expense under a set of Sclen-
tific figures offered before the public
utilities commission today by w. Il.
Symons of Chicago, railroad con-
su1ting engineer. Symons, called TO
give expert testimony in the passen-
ger rate case, explained his deduc-
lions in detail and said that but four
per cent difference existed between
passenger and freight terminal
charges.
Cost to Stop Train.
In reply to questions from members
of the public utilities commission
Symons explained that Oklahoma and
Missouri experiments had shown that
it required four minutes to stop
freight train and eight minutes TO
place the train under normal head
way. The witness, however. made nc
definite statement concerning the
time required to start and stop a pas
senger train.
Passenger fares, both local and fast
train service, were reckoned on a cost
basis of 20 per cent for line charges
and 80 per cent for terminal charges,
the witness explained. Then he divfd-
ed local and through train charges,
both freight and passenger. His tes-
timony was technical and based on
personal deductions from railroad cost
experiments in Oklahoma and Mis-
souri,. Symons did not participate
personally in the experiments.
Under examination by Chairman
Bristow, Symons said that it was not
improbable that experts might dis
agree as to the method of distributing
expense of operation, especially in the
matter of percentage cost charged I'M
der various classifications. In the
course of his testimony, Symons said
that to reduce the cost of terminal ex--
pense 1T was often necessary to in
crease the running time of trains
scheduled at % and 80 miles to 55 or
60 miles.
No further testimony will be taken
at this time concerning the Oklahoma
formula which was discussed by wit
nesses during the entire hearing last
week. At the opening of the morning
session, members of the utilities COM
mission indicated that they would re-
serve a decision on the adoption of the
formula until all testimony had been
offered. The weight accorded the for
mula by members of the commission
will probably be discussed by the COM
mission in portion of their decision.
More than twenty witnesses are yet
to be called on behalf of the railroads
A number of these witnesses will
doubtless be subjected to lengthy ex-
aminationS by members of the COM
mission and their attorneys. Based on
the progress made last week, the re-
mainder of the month will be re-
quired to complete the taking of tes-
timony. Attorneys for the railroads.
however, feel that they will conclude
their case some time next week. For
the remainder of the inquiry, but four
hours each day will be devoted to the
case. Morning sessions will begin at
10 O'Clock and close at noon. The aft
ernoon sessions will last from to
o'clock.