The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-08-19
MUCH OPPOSITION
TO FREIGHT RAISE

The public sO4Flce commission
aearIng on the aIpiIcauOI oil the raii-
.oaus uoIng Dusiness IN Ne'~da lOf
.ate increases corresponding 70 49,
9lanted a Iuls section Oh ~ coun-
az W lne Interstate Commerce co4a-
-Alsslon a snort uIne ago came 10 a
Siose late tuesday aIternoon, thougn
onaugnnessy tnaC the case is sun
open Tor submission OF data by IN
lerests that had given notice OF in
,enuon to make a showing.
ii. Z. Booth, legal representative
OF the Southern fac1hc, and actln5
spokesman for the carriers applying
,or the rate increases, requested a
decision at as early a date as posi-
Die not inconsistent with the conf
missions other engagements, in vie"
of the fact that the rates granted d.
the interstate commission become Ell
~fective August 26th. He was
| that it was the intention of the COM
mission to expedite the matter as
| much as possible, Jays the Carson
News.
In appearing before the commits
sion as the delegated representative
! of the Reno Chamber of Commerce,
the Rotary Club of that city, and oil
the Greater Carson Club, E. II. Walk
er took the stand hat the Nevada
commission must act under the pro
visions of the Nevada law n take
such action as is warranted by con
ditions applicable to or controlling
each road. He analysed the earning
powers of all Nevada railroads and
systems within the state. In behali
of the interests he represented, Mr..
Walker opposed any advances in pas
senger fares on the Southern Pacific
Western Pacific or Los Angeles anu
Salt Lake railroads on the grounds
that the fares ON these main lines IL
Nevada are already higher than IL
other states of the union, excepting
Arizona and New Mexico. He also
opposed advances in class freight
rates on the Southern Pacific on the
ground that the existing schedules
are discriminatory. He opposed am
advances in commodity rates where
here is not the proper relationship
with those rates now in effect to ant
from Sacramento, San Francisco an0
other Coast points. Walker intro
iuced several exhibits in support o.
ais contentious.
Although requested by the COM
mission, Mr.. Booth failed to place be-
fore the commission for its considera-
ton. valuation segregations OF the
various roads. He also objected to
making a part of the record the testi-
mony given at the hearings before
the interstate commerce commission.
In answe to questions he expressed
the belief that the reasonableneSs Oh
the rates for Nevada were considered
in the fixing of the rates for the
group in winch the state is placed.
he maintained that In carrying oul
the provisions Oh the transportation
act he interstate commerce commits
sion was charged with the task OIL
providing certain revenue regardless
OF valuations; that limitations are
placed on local adjustments, even,
and that the only is to the
interstate commerce COMMISSION. Tie
would not admit that the regulatory,
commissions OF the various states
have any rate-ixlng powers over
roads wholly within the boundaries Oh
their states.
John q. Kirchen made a further
showing during the day in the inter-
est OF certain mining companies thai
would be unable to continue opera
ton under hlgner freight rate scned-
uies.
In his opening statement Monday
Commissioner Snaughnessy declared
that under the public service COM
mission law OF this state it will be
the position of the commission that
1t must consider the resonableness
of the rates to the people as well as
a fair return to the carriers, and
therefore we do not understand at
this time that We can authorize a
horizontal increase which will wipe
out certain industrials." He uuoted