Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-04
HEARINGS ARE
IMP0RTANTT0
N. D. SHIPPERS
Investigation Wanted Be
fore Railroads Are Prive-
legged to Raise Rates.

bl0TnAfck, N. D., April 6.-f1edr-
ints before the interstate commerce
to northwest live stock growers
and shippers were attended by the
North Dakota railway commission
while in Chicago last week.
There were involved certain stop
ping-in-trAnsit privileges which live
stock commission men claimed were
available only to the packers, who
were thus enabled to buy in transit
and to reduce purchases ordinarily
City and Omaha to such an extent as
to reduce prices paid on these mar
kets, and to the detriment Of live
stock producers and the commission
men located at these markets.
The hearing on charges for clean
ing and disinfecting cars was postpon-
cd until April % because Of the above
mentioned cases consuming more
time than had been anticipated. The
present charges for cleaning and dis
injecting cars are $3.50 for a single
deck car ana 81 for a double-decker.
Shippers contend hat these fees are
excessive. AZ the cost Of doing such
work is small, and some revenue IL
derived from the sale of fertilizer re-
covered In this operation.
The Illinois commission allowed the
railroads to charge from rs cents to
11.26 for this service, ana that
charge, shippers claim, is adequate.
The North Dakota commission will
cago on the 23rd.
General live Stock Case.
While the commission was in Chi
cAgo considerable time was devoted to
discussing the general live stock case
to ba heard by the interstate
commerce commission and which will
result in fixing the rates and condi-
tons governing live stock shipments
for the entire United States. The
North Dakota commission expects to
DO everything possible to protect the
this hearing.
At Joint meetings Of state railroad
commissions discussion of the rail-
roads proposal to increase all rates
fifteen per cent was INDUCED in. The
states representatives took the posi-
ton that the interstate commerce
commission should make a full and
complete investigation before allow
ing such ar advance. The railroads
have asked congress and the intere
state commerce commission to allow
this advance in rates without the us
ual hearings and investigation. The
carriers contend that the Increase in
wages Of train and engine men due to
the Adamson law necessitates heavy
increases in freight revenues. Ship
pers, on the other hand, hold that the
earnings of the railroads have In
creased sufficiently in the past year
or two to take up. this additional ex.
penss.
Asks o Hearing.
The North Dakota ali board has
wired the interstate commission ask.
ing that no increase be granted until
a hearing has been held and all OF
the state commissions and the ship.
pers generally given an opportunity
to present their side OF the case.
What this proposed increase would
mean to North Dakota the state raj
board shows by using the 1914 wheat
Ladd's figures as to the amount OF
wheat marketed. 1. e., $500. 0Oo
bushels. and assuming an average
freight rate Of fifteen cents the hun.
dred to terminal markets, the in.
crease in charges would be 2.25 cents
per hundred, or a total added freigh,
hill for this state Of &1.100.2b on this
one commodity. A similar compute.
ton based on the 1912 crop Of 14s,.
$4,000 bushels would make the in.
creased freight charge 3~1,S41.570 fol
wheat alone.
Applying the same averages to live.
stock. merchandise and grain othe,
than wheat indicates tina a ffteer
per cent freight advance would cos
this state between four and ,ve mil
lions annually.
Board Ia Handicapped.
The board has these and MANY 9th.
err important matters now under con.
s~ideration. and 1t Ia arriving to do it.
best to serve all Of the interests OF the
state faithfully and intelligently. Il
nnds itself seriously handicapped,
however. by the fact that after Jul,
1t will have no funds with which to
employ a rate expert. ana much OF
the essential work Of preparation and
presentation Of evidence must be done