Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-08-04
RATE HEARING
HELD BEFORE
COMMISSION
State Railroad Commission Hears
Arguments on Iignite Coal
Rate.
RAILROADS PRESENT
STRONG ARGUMENTS
Further Data to Be Submitted Be.
fore Decision Is Rendered on
Question.

The state railroad commission ii
session yesterday heard arguments or
the Ignite coal rate in this state. The
various railroads, interested In Goa
rates, as well as mine operators and
representatives of the state, We're in
attendance. ..
Attorneys for the 500 line presented
mass of evidence at the hearing to
show tha: the present rate in the
state, which the coal operators claim
is excessive, is only reasonable. They
presented a complete statement Of all
their business for the year .914.
Assistant General Counsel Donnel
ly for the Northern Pacific also held
the present rate to be reasonable. He
also gave brief outline Of the effect
Of the recent supreme court decision
on the railroad business. The Great
, Northern road did not raise their rate
with other roads in the state, but
maintained the maximum statutory
rate in effect in 1907. However, they
contend that they are entitled to the
same rate as other roads in the state
engaged in the same business.
The year previous to the supreme
court decision, allowing roads in this
state to return to the old rates, the
500 line lost $4,000 on transporta.
tion of coal. while the Northern Paci-
fic made $S00which is not considered
reasonable profit on the amount OF
coal transported. ..r
The railroads will submit further
data to the state railroad commission
before a decision on the Ignite rate
Is returned. A comparison will be
made with rates in other states, which
will be submitted by attorneys for the
various roads.
Those present at the hearing were:
A. H. Lossow, commerce counsel
for the 500 Line: A. r. Marshall, as
sistant auditor OF the 500 Line: ]. r..
Heberly, special accountant, 800 Line
and T. E. Sands, general freight agent
of the 500 Line. .
H. Blakely. general freight agent,
and Chas. Donnelly, assistant genera
counsel, for the Northern Pecific
John F. Finerty, assistant general
counsel, and Attorneys H. H. Brown
and r. A. Tonar for the Great North
crn. j. J. Foley, travelling freight
agent for tile Milwaukee road, repre-
sented them at the hearing.
The operators were represented by
J. L. Enright and W. p. Macomber, of
Wilton, representing the Wilton
Ignite Coal Co. Attorney J. A. Hi
landf for the Max voal Co., of Moo,
nan; H. E. Soule for the National Bri-
quoting Co., of Kenmare; F. E. Deit-
ers. Of the Dakota Ignite mines, at
Dickinson; e. l.. Zimmerman, with
the High Grade Ignite Co., of Me-
dora; C. G. Wysong, representing the
Burlington operators, and George +.
Mcclure, the Mcclure Coal Co., of Mi
not.
Q Express Rate Hearing.
Representatives of the va.lcus ex-
press companies will be in Bismarck
today to appear before the railroad
commission and ask for an increase in
express rates within the state. The
present rates in the state, in num-
Der of instances, are lower than inter
state rates, and are also lower than
rates in some of the other states. 'The
express men will make an effort to
have a uniform rate established.