The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-14

"hSHiNSTONs aug. lS.-b. r. boTec,
president of the Delaware and Hudson
Railroad, gave out a statement here to-
night assailing the Interstate Commerce
Commission on account of its decision
reducing the freight rates ON anthracite
coal and depriung the hard coal roads
of about 100000 a year In revenue
Mr.. Lores's statement was accepted here
AZ representing the formal views OF all
the railroads involved in the decision.
Sufficient time said Mr.. Loree, has
not elapsed since the receipt Of the
on the earnings OF the carriers. 1t
seems probable. however. that the
opinion will affect not only the receipts
OF the anthracite carriers which were
party to the proceedings but OF all
roads handling anthracite coal, n II
so 1t will affect practically all roads in
trunk line territory.
at Is possible that the total loss OF
revenue will be greater than the aggre-
gate Increase granted to all the carriers
In the Eastern rate case. 1t IL quite
evident that the commissions disposition
IL 10 give 1t in drops and take 1t In
bucketfuls.'"
President Wilson was interested to-
day in reading the summaries of the
commissioner decision. II was said that
the Presidents general attitude OF favor
ing generous treatment for the carriers
does not extend to disapproval of the
commissions decision In the hard coal
case.
says Young Lawyer Did work.
Mr.. Loree complains that the Inter-
state Commerce Commission instead OF
hearing testimony in this important
case delegated the duty to a young
lawyer. The president OF the Delaware
and Hudson says:
Although the proceeding was one
involving interests Of almost incalcu-
liable magnitude and the commission
consists of no less than seven mem
bers, this attorney presided during most
Of the sessions. At the few sessions
prior to the argument there was never
more than one member of the commits
sion presen, and OF the three who at
different times were present for a few
days each only one remained "A mem
Der of the commission at the date OF the
argument.
THE officers Of the carriers affected
and the owners OF their bonds and
shares believe that their interests
would have received more adequate con-
slderation had the commission found II
convenient to arrange its work so that
its members could have heard the evil
dence In person. and had they not found
IL necessary to rely upon necessarily
more or less incomplete and unsatisfac-
tory s%ynopses OF the testimony submitted
to them by their subordinates. II con.
gress has without intention SO multi.
piled the duties of the commission thai
personal attention to Investigations OF
such importance il not possible II Is
desirable that Congress and the public
should be made fully aware Of the fact
The difficult and tremendously i'm.
portant functions of the commission
were entrusted to its discretion and the
aw provides that its judgment shall b.
exercised in the light Of the facts dis.
closed by full hearings. II Is o righr
that the great property interests Of tn.
railways should he at the mercy OF th'
commissions subordinates. in whom
Congress has reposed no discretion ant
to whom II has delegated no supervisors
powers.
The carriers believed that II woult
tend toward a clear understanding oi
the problem of anthracite transportation
II the commission could he induced e
go TO the anthracite region and per
sonally to witness some at least OF tn,
principal operations incident thereto,
An invitation was accordingly extended
through counsel. but the commission
failed to avail itself OF the opportunity
The best year OF the last sixteer
for the anthracite carriers. as shown
by the financial results OF their opera
tions. was 1907. In that year the ne
corporate income. after paying wages
I other pnprlttnR nNnpnSea faxaS aud in
terest upon indebtedness, averaged onl,
al per cent. of the cost OF their Drop
critics. while in 1914. the worst year
II fell TO sos per cent.
From 1907 to 1914 the anthracite rail
ways expended in actual cash for the eN
tension and Improvement of their pr, per
ties the sum OF $i34,34i.j36. but in 1871
their net operating income was sl7.2s5.
036 less thar in 1907. The managers o
these properties are forced to pause owe
this showing n TO inquire what in
centive or just iiication ii offers for fur
Their borrowing for The development o
these properties.
"Omitting the PENNSYLVANIA system
the total gross receipts from all operat
ing sources OF the other railways servin,
the anthracite region in 1913 We're s2Ii,
J93, SS6. 90, and no less than sS5,6lS,
436.s 81 OF this aggregate. or 3l.6 pc
cent, came from the transportation o
anthracite Considering their passenge
business. which all authorities agree doe
not produce an adequate return upon IN
property used in the public service, II dp
pears that A? per cent. of the freigh
receipts of these companies was derive
from anthracite.
"Therefore to strike al the ANTHRACITE
revenues of these carriers is TO strike n
the very heart of their business. A
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