Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-16
SAYS RAILROADS
INFLUENCE PRESS
AGAINST PACKE RS
Attorney at Hearing on AppIi-
cation for Increase of
Freight Rates, Would Have
Newspapers MuzzIed,
lay MORNING JOURNAL ssee,..,,.s,ou,. r

tnr MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wisu
/ chicago, H., March 15.-F. 4. T.e-
iand, of st. Louis, chairman OF the
southwestern Tariff commission to-
day completed his testimony before
Interstate Commerce Commissioner w
NJ Daniels in the hearing on the an
pHCdlloh or torty-one western railroad
systems Tor increase i'm freight rates
On certain commodities. Mr.. Leland
nau devoted two days to asserting
that the railroads should have In
eIeases IN rates on fresh meats and
packing house products amounting IN
about 3iac a hundred pounds The
proposed advances. he testified wore
intended to equalize present rates with
the cost Of transportation and with
rates prevailing as to other commod-
ties Mr. Leland, in his testimony.
! SAID That packing house interests had
maintained an oreapization to seek
preferences in rates and special facil-
ltes ana that when special facilities
asked by the packers were not grant
ed by the railroads. the packers shift
ed their patronage to other roads.
Worried by Headline.
Luther NJ. Walter, attorney for the
packers. referred to a headline pub
lished in Chicago paper March H.
and asked Mr.. Leland if he had read
it,
Commissioner Daniels said the wit
ness need not answer the question.
Mr. walter then said
MAY ! resume my inquiry a little
further and / will state the purpose
Of it, The publication in the daily
press reaches the public generally.
That is the only way they know as
to the testimony that is going on
If there is an organized effort to
take testimony that had been de-
liyered here before YOU and corrupt
it to show far more that it shows
here, II is something that ought to be
stopped"
Ruling of Commissioner.
Commissioner Daniels said
"Mr. Walter, if We should go into
the question of how far the version
in the press correctly represents the
proceedings before us with something
like "a 600 daily papers in the coun-
try, we should have something of a
task
THAT is quite impossible. We are
trying a case here
AS matter of fact, I personally |
do not know what it is you are re-
ferring to, so ! cannot be affected |
by it,"
Mr. Walter: 1T is not the effect |
upon yourself or upon the commits I
sion, but it is fair to the commission /
that the people of this country should I
know something Of the facts ana II I
these gentlemen are not fair to the I
not fair to ourselves. we
ought to be able to see who is pay
ing for it"
Modifics Statement.
Commissioner Daniels II do not
think YOU want to let that stand.
Mr. Walter q won't say paying
'or this, but who inspired the articles.
will put il that way
Mr.. Walter then read headline
nto the record Charge packers bully
'ail lines in giving rates.
Commissioner Daniels ruled that
he witness should not be interro-
,ated further on the subject.
From both sides now he said,
there have been suggestions that the
,ress is being used as an engine in
mencing public opinion. We cannot
% into that We will not go into
t. Let us go ahead and try the case
N its merits