The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-01

gross earnings of the road in Kansas
were $25. 1892. of which $5,1S6,-
241.66 was from intrastate passenger
fares and S4,90S,S96.61 was from m
terstate passenger business In adal-
ton to the passenger business of S1O,-
o95,13S.27 in Kansas in the four year
period, Stebbins reported freight rev
enues of $2O,732, 373-S7-both state
and interstate-for the four year per-
iod.
Intrastate passenger receipts in
Kansas for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1915, were shown by Steb-
bins to have been 1892, S59.42. Inter
state receipts were given at S1,o6O.-
553.S1. The figures. Stebbins tesd-
fed were assigned to Kansas from
the annual reports of the road
Last All Summer.
That the passenger rate case will
continue all spring and probably
much of the summer was indicated IN
the opening statements of railway at
torneys and the early testimony be-
fore the public utilities commission
Several railroads told the state COM
mission that a report on the special
questions by the commission could not
be given at this time and in some in
stances a delay of several months may
be necessary.
The Union Pacific and Missouri Pa
cific asked leave to introduce their
evidence at once. But the returns
from special investigation by the Rock
Island, Santa Fe and Frisco were not
ready. The NJ. K. & T. railway has
kept a force of men busy answering
special questions by the commission
and through it's attorneys stated that
a report would be ready next week
The Rock Island will probably be able
to report March Is, while the Frisco
returns will not be ready until late in
May. The Santa Fe, through its at
torneys, stated that the special reports
could not be given for several months.
Cold resentment by the railroads
was evident during the early stages of
the hearing. The lawyers for the
railroads affected by the rate case told
the commission in rather polite and
yelled terms that any one can ask
questions, but that much time and ex-
pense are required to make answer.
Railroads Are Peeved.
Several of the railroads pleaded that
every line of available information
had been placed at the disposal of the
commission. Demand for more data,
they intimated, was a subterfuge to
force delays and embarrassment and
meant only the blocking of the hear
ing.
G. S. stebbins, assistant auditor for
the Union Pacific, gave numerous
statements concerning the operating
expenses and revenues of the road. He
stated that the railroad had paid divi-
dends of and 0 per cent on it's com
mon stock. 1t had also added 62 mil
lion dollars to it's surplus in twelve
years.
Increases of from fifty to one hun
dred per cent in operating expenses in
the last twelve years were claimed by
Stebbins. Then he produced figures
to show the commission that his state
| ments were correct. The revenues of
the railroad, he said, had failed to in
crease in proportion to the increase in
expenses and higher rates were needed
| to meet conditions.
| Following the taking of the testi-
mony of the Union Pacific and Mis-
souri, Pacific, it is probale that an
adjournment will be taken until early
in April. Testimony in the case may
not be completed before July or Au-
gust. The application for increased
passenger rates was filed in Novem-
her 1914