The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-28
ILLINOIS men TO
Be HEARD; CASE
IN SECOND WEEK
Shippers From Neighbor State
to Testify on Rates in Chi
cago Courtroom.

CHICAGO, July 2S.-The second
week of the Indiana-Illinois freight
rate discrimination controversy being
heard by Commissioner H B. Meyer
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion will begin Monday with Illinois
shippers on the stand. During the
first week Indiana shippers presented
voluminous exhibits showing the rate
differences which favor tho Illinois
shippers to the detriment Of Hoosier
merchants, manufacturers and bust
ness men.
Commissioner Meyer was summon
ed to Washington last week. but ex-
pected to return IN time to preside at
today's session. In his absence E1
aminer william A. DisQue conducted
the hearing.
Counsel for the Illinois interests
will present $50 exhibits and examine
about that number of shippers and
their representatives. Efforts Of the
Illinois shippers will be to prove that
the rate differences between the two
states are not sufficiently important
to be termed unjust discrimination u
They will contend that the new level
for Illinois rates which the Indiana
complaints seek to establish, will re.
suit in an era Of high prices in that
state, as the consumers must absorb
any increase. Determinations were
acknowledged by Illinois witnesses
Friday and Saturday, but they said
the differences were not sufficiently
fragrant to work any substantial in
justice to Indiana business interests
Roads Also Appeal.
It,
elimination case is the appeal Of I'LL
rates in that state to relieve them OF
filed early in the hearing w. C. Max
we'll, traffic manager of the Wabash
Railroad and representative Of the
United States railroad administration
pointed out the dire straits in which
the carriers find themselves.
He said that railroads controlled by
the railroad administration were be
ing operated at a monthly deficit OF
$50.000,0O0, and that Illinois roads aid
ed in creating this shortage. Railroad
cost accountants presented tables
showing railroad labor costs from sc
to "a percent more than in 1917.
Operation and maintenance costs
also have increased In about the same
proportion, the accountants testified
When railroads in other states receiv
ed freight rate increases the Illinois
Public Utilities Commission denied
railroads in this state any advances
according to witnesses for the rail
roads.
During the time the Illinois railroads
waged an unsuccessful struggle fol
advanced freight rates the Indiana
railroads have received several in
creases In rates. Rates in Illinois are
from 20 to 80 percent lower than or
similar goods in Indiana and in addi
ton the Illinois shippers have an equa
level in the Hoosier markets, often be
ing permitted to haul their products
two and three times as far at slight
ly lower rate in the Hoosier state thar
the Indiana shippers are able to OBJ
tain.
Forced Out Of Field.
Several of the leading manufactur
ers and jobbers of Indiana testified
last week that their business in Hi
nois markets had dropped to almost
nothing because Of the difference II
rates. Others abandoned that field be
ause the Chicago and st. Louis job