The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-04


were ordered from the roads al
fected by the rate case. Attend
ance of railroad accountants and
auditors at the adjourned hearing
was also requested.
Railroads which lost money under
the two cent passenger rate agreement
might suffer even greater losses II per
mitted TO return to a three cent rare
That was the fear expressed today Dy
Joseph l.. Bristow's public utilities
commission at the resumption of the
passenger rate cases, following a de-
lay of eight months.
Warm and decidedly personal SEN
timents were expressed by the lawyers
today
Katy Was Brave.
At todav's hearing the Missouri
Kansas & Texas railroad displayed al
most open defiance to the state COM
mission. w w. Brown of Parsons at
tornev for the railroad, told the COM
r,issioners in substance that questions
had been asked about matters which
did not affect the rate case and IN no
manner concerned the commission
1--WE haven't stated, if you please,
that the matters involving these ques-
tions are none of the commission ,
business. although we may have mace
some such a remark in our personal
discussion Of the matter sald Brown
Roads say They Lose Money
Nearly the entire morning session
was spent in a discussion of the num-
erous questions submitted to che rail-
roads regarding their operating eX-
penses and revenues. Some d the
railroads had not answered these
questions in detail. Neither the Mis-
souri, Pacific nor Katy had answered
ouestiOns regarding valuations and
technical distributions of expense and
earnings Both roads stated that they
had lost money under the Two cent
rate
Didn't you lose more money under
the three cent rate?" Fred Jackson,
attorney for the commission asked oil
Brown.
Il can't answer that question be
cause we have no figures aVallaole
concerning the three cent rate
chen the commis sion showed alarm
and serious concern a> to the future
of railroad operation in Kansas
IF YOU can't give comparison OF
earnings and losses under both the
two and three cent rate, jackson
urged might not the granting Of your
request for d higher rate cause you to
suffer even greater losses than at
present."
Brown Spoke Right Up.
Brown assured Jackson and the
commission that the roads were will
imE to take a chance on an increased
rate Then Jackson went into the
failure ot the road 70 report its valua-
tions in detail
Il don't regard the valuation ques-
tion material to this hearing" re-
sponded Brown. We have lost mon
ey. 1t doesn't matter whether 1t was
Ill
lion. Besides, if you want valuations
why don't YOU take those of the state
tax commission? 1t i'll becomes one
branch of the state government to as
sumo that another is not doing its duty
and the railroad valuations were made
bN the tax commission IN good faith
Lawyers for the railroads were in
clned to show genuine feeling in theil
remarks to the commission and th'
opening session of the rate case indi
Gated no desire to conceal opinion a.
to the commissions delay of mOr'
than a year in disposing of the case
when we try lawsuit and ou
evidence is all in, we expect the cour
or commission to decide that cas-
either for or against US sarcasticall.
remarked Brown. Then the lawye
indicated that the railroads would lik
some statement as to when decision
might be expected in the rate case
The commission did not reply.
Kansas Formula Not Ready.-WaIkcI
Paul L. Walker, representing tn
Rock Island, told the commission tina
the special Kansas formula would no
be prepared for several weeks an
could not be submitted at this time
The formula covers operating eXpens
and revenues for October. NOVembe
and December of 1915. It was pre-
pared for use in the rate case.
Attorney Brown for the Katy spen
CONTINUED on Page Two.)