Arizona republican., 1920-01-27
SAYS R. R'S OUGHT ID
 RETURN. S280,000 ID. COTTON RA|SERS HERE.

The railroads have taken s2sO00O from the cotton growers Of Maricopa county which should be returned said Roland Johnston, traffic manager of Inc Phoenix chamber of commerce, yesterday while speaking relative to Inc evidence presented in the case of Inc Southwest Cotton company against me railroads. in which intervention pleas by the traffic bureau and the state corporation commission were made before the interstate commerce commission last week.
 Johnston said he based his allega- ton on the cotton rate of $l.S3L to Boston made by the railroads Decem- her 31. 1919, under the assumption that this rate published by the railroads is reasonable. as against n rate of s2.53 collected by the railroads over a long perior prior to December 3l.
 His notes based upon the evidence follows:
 Value Of cotton crop in Maricopa county more than one-half the value of all crops in Maricops county for 1919, and practically one-third the value Of all crops raised in the state.
 The rate of $2.53, Phoenix to Bos- ton, was collected by carriers over a lonG period. A rate of s2.s21s was charged for a period. On December a rate of S1.s3la was made. Rates as published by the carriers considered bJ lO De TeaSOndnlc.
 The rate of s253 was collected on the bulk of shipments. or 69IA cents per hrndredweight above the rate admitted by carriers 10 be a reasonable rate. The weight Of bale of cotton averages si5 pounds
 The carriers have collected as freight charges about S350 per bale on SOoO0 bales or s2So.OOo. which amount was illegally taken from the growers on cotton that was grown in Mariccpa county
 The supreme court Of the United. States, Gin a case quoted) says: The carrier ought not TO be allowed to re- tain his illegal profits
 The interstate commerce commis- sion lin case quoted) says: If it be felt that it would he against public policy for carriers to retain charges found 10 he unreasonable 1t would seem preferable that the carrier be re- euired 10 pay the unreasonable charge into the public treasury
 Johnston then notes that the com mission should determine and put into effect reasonable rate, applying on cotton, compressed and uncompressed. rom shipping points in Maricopa coun- ty 10 milling points, and continues:
 That the carriers be required 10 prepare a report showing the amount O. unreasonable and excessive charges that have been collected or may be collected until such reasonable rate is established, for period of two years prior to the filing of the. complaint. or Tor such other period as the commis sion may deem proper and that after the amount of such unreasonable charges have been ascertained the cc commission order. after deducting the amount for which valid claims have been made. the balance of such money that accrued to the respective carriers be paid into the treasury of Maricopa county. state of Arizona for the pur- pose of building highways or other public improvements in said Maricopa county. so that the expenditure of this 1 money may serve to benefit those from 1 whom it was taken by the defendant | 
 Johrston's notes state that there | cannot be even shadow of doubt | that the MarIcopa county cotton grow | CTS absorbed the entire loss and were | damaged in the extent Of the differ | ance between the charges as paid and | what the commission finds 70 be a | -eascEable rate