Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-02-10
OBJECTIONS SLOW UP
PROCEEDINGS in RATE
CASE HEARING FRIDAY

Objections in a constant stream. Of
fered by counsel for the half dozen or
so railroads appearing before Examiner
Brown, of the Interstate Commerce
commission. who is hearing the COM
plant of the Arizona Corporation COM
mission against the passenger tariff
published by the roads, served to SLOW
up the proceedings yesterday, and al
low but two witnesses to be put on the
stand. The hearing is being held in
the court room of the Federal building,
and has attracted no less than 30 rail-
road attorneys and officials. Not un-
til afternoon were there developments
of Importance.
In its complaint 20 the Interstate
Commerce commission, the state COM
mission alleges that the new passenger
rates. which the roads have put into
effect, are unreasonable, and when TAX
en- in comparison with rates from Chi
cago to points in the west equally as
distant as Phoenix, the claim is made
that they are discriminatory. The first
| fight on the new rates was made in
| Chicago a year ago. before the Inter-
state Commerce commission.
The evidence, such of it as mas been
| introduced IN behalf of the corporation
commission, has been mainly a compar-
ison OF rates from Chicago to Phoenix
and Chicago TO other points in the
west
Thomas D. Cashal, acting rate ex-
pert for the corporation commission,
was the first witness placed upon the
stand yesterday morning. Mr.. Cashal
was qualified by Chairman of the Com
mission Jones, VINO is conducting the
complainant side of the case. Mr.
Int
tive statistics, which were admitted as
evidence. after objections by s. T. BIed-
soc, chief counsel for the Santa Fe, had
been noted by Examiner Browne. Mr.
Bledsoe objected to their introduction
on the grounds that comparing the
/ transcontinental rates Of the Santa Fe
with other roads, was unjust, similar
operating conditions not existing on any
of the roads.
Mr.. Cashal testified that insofar as
he had been able to find the rate per
passenger per mile from Chicago to
Phoenix, was higher than to any other
town in the west of equal or nearly
equal distance. He cited the case of
Connell town 2O65 miles from Chi
cago. on the Northern Pacific, to WHICH
place the fare from Chicago was con-
siderably less than to Phoenix. which
q
Claim Witness No Expert
Chairman Jones who was conducting
the examination, then attempted to
have Mr.. Cashal testify as to the phys
ical aspects of the northern roads as
compared with those of the Santa Fe,
and Southern Pacific MIR fSledsoe,
seriously objected to the witnesses at
tempting to answer the question. claim
ing that Cashal had not qualified as an
operating expert witness Mr. Casual
practically admitted that all the know
ledge he had Of operating conditions
on the northern reads was from hay
ing been over them and noting condi-.
tlons from a car window c. w. Dur
brow, counsel for the Southern Pacific.
then gained permission from the ex-
aminer to cross examine Mr. Casual as
TO his qualifications to testify on oper-
atlng conditions and soon gained an
admission from the witness. that he
was rate expert but nor an eneiu-
eering expert nor by any means in
position to testify as to the density Of
traffic, road conditions, grades. or
whether or not the curves on fhe var
ious roads had been compensated.
Ihe examiner finally stated that the
supreme court had ruled that the rea-
sonableness of d rate can never he
proven by categorical answers, and that
Mr. Cashal should be allOwe! 10 90
ahead, stating his opinions. the evil
dence to be admitted for what ii was
worth on its face value.
Arizona Pays Big Bill
The witness then testified that. ac-
/ cording 70 his figures. the revenue of
the Santa Fe for the year 1915. was
over one hundred and twelve million
sdollars, and of that amount $1G.465. .225
came from the state of Arizona He
! testlfled that the operating revenue per
| mile of the Santa Fe, in the state of
Arizona for the year 1915 was S514642
or $40 more per mile In this state than
IN any other state on the whole line.
On, the Southern Pacific. witness
canned that the revenue per mile is
21V'VVV Whlle In the other states the
revenue per mile is $4,000
Upon the cross examination. which
was conducted by Mr.. Durbrow the
only bit Of humor of the whole dav was
injected, when Mr.. Casual was asked if
ne had ever before this occasion at :
, tempted to determine the reasonable
ness of rate
This is my first offense." replied
| the witness
And it is properly characterized
too, came the quick reply.
W. a. Sangster, secretary Of the cor
poration commission. followed Mr..
Cashal upon the stand Like his pre-
| uecessor, he too, had prepared volumi-
nous exhibits, which We're admitted af
! Ter objections by railroad counsel had
oeen noted by the examiner. Sangster
read from his exhibits figures, purport- :
/ ing to show the earnings of the var
| ious railroads interested in the hear
ing. He claimed that the passenger
earnings of the Santa Fe in 1864 had
oeen fifteen million, steadily mounting
| from that figure each year until in
| d9l5 they reached the sum of s27 :
| Sz5'64O. The passenger earnings of the
southern Pacific in 1915. he stated were
! IA round figures over twenty five mil
| lion dollars
| Three Cent Fare Evidence
| AT this juncture, Commissioner Jones
( attempted to introduce as evidence the
opinion and order Of the corporation
| commission in the three -cent-fare case.
counsel for the railroads objected to
fCOntlnuQd on GfvN