Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-01
Clifford T0yne,s Statement
UDOn Railroad Rate Demands

Chicago, March 31.--Clifford Thorne.
mission, in behalf Of the protesting
freight rate hearing outlined before
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
w. M. Daniels today the opposition of
the shippers to the freight rate in
creases proposed by forty.one western
railroad systems.
The railroads are seeking to have
present rates increased on certain
commodities, which, they asert, at
present do not yield them fair pront.
The total increases, II granted, accord
ing to the railroads., would increase
their revenue 310,000.00O year.
The railroads have been presenting
their side Of the case since March 4.
Mr.. Thorne's statement at the hearing
today was the beginning Of the ship
pers' case. He said:
During the past four weeks this
commission has heard the testimony
offered by the oflicials of western rail
roads, in favor Of an increase In their
transportation charges, aggregating
millions Of dollars annually.
"We will now present to you the
evidence on behalf of the producers,
shippers, and consumers OF this west.
ern part of the nation.
Our object is not to make general
onslaught upon the credit OF these
western railroads. The result Of our
efforts will be rather to help US estab-
lish the soundness and strength of
their credit.
"As indicating conditions in the ter.
ritory involved, only the testimony OF
the presidents of the Chicago Great
Western railroad, the Missouri Pacific
railway and the Missouri, Kansas Z
Texas railway was introduced. Moth.
ing further need be said. This COM
mission and the public knows whether
they represented typical lines or
weaklings. This procedure is In mark
ed contrast to that pursued BY the
eastern railroads, whore the chief ,ex-
ecutives of the representative lines
testified.
I'VE will show you that three.
fourths of the traffic in this territory
Ia being handled by companies that
are earning, above all operating ex.
penses, all taxes and al 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
present case the commissions Of six
teen western states, In compliance
with state laws, have secured the sesv.
Ices of an eminent corps of expert &C.
countants and statisticians, and are
looking after the interests Of the pub.
lie.
Joined with the commissions are
the representatives Of upwards OF $780,
900 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.
I'm the gathering Of this material.
every courtesy possible has been ex.
tended to us by all the railway COM
panieS, with only one exception.
I'VE win demonstrate to you some
mistakes in the figures offered by the
railroads. We do not call them mis-
representations. for all OF US are liza
BILE to err at times. Some Of these
errors are small and of little import
ance; while others are basic and fun.
damental.
ut is not necessary for use to pa
rade glaring, sensational incidents Of
high finance or questionable acts. II
is cold blooded business proposition.
The famous Gould printing press
scandal, where they made Erie stock
over night, an incident that will prob
ably be famous for all time, only IN.
volved some @23,000,0O0
1.-THE present movement for increas.
ed freight and passenger rates involv-
ed several times that sum Of money.
not Just at one time, but every year,
now and in the future, for this and ~
ture generations to pay.
1.-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, az well
as the railroad properties. This -
true as to some railroads, but we will
show you it is absolutely untrue as to
western railroads as whole. AS In