The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-12-09
RAILROADS WANT ALL
IN SIGHT IN NEVADA

Attorneys for the railroads yester-
day made strenuous objection to the
introduction of any evidence by the
state which would tend to show that
present interstate rates of the car
riers discriminate against the inter-
ests of Nevada. In reply, Chairman
Shaughnessy. speaking for the Ne
vada Public Service Commission, said
the entire question of rates in this
state must be considered at yesterday
afternoons session, or the commission
would withdraw. The railroads had
gone little too far.
Examiner Healy overruled the OBJ
lection of the carriers, basing his ful-
ing on the order of the national COM
mission calling the present hearing,
which provided that all rates affect
ing Nevada are under consideration.
Chairman Shaughnessy also pre-
sented the question of valuation of
railroads in Nevada for rate-making
purposes. He told the Interstate Com
merce Commission examiner that
wide discrepancy existed between fig
ures established by the state commits
sion for rate-making purposes, and
those fixed by the Interstate COM
merce Commission. And he added.
significantly, that the figures used by
the state commission were the basis
for taxes paid by the railroads in this
state.
Fred Feldt, rate expert for the ~tate
commission. was the first withess
called Wednesday morning, according
to the Reno Gazette report He ex-
planned an exhibit prepared by him
showing that passenger fares in Me-
vada are at present higher than in
other Western states, even with the
20 per cent increase recently granted
in those states added to the tariffs.
His statistics showed actual fares
charged on main lines in Nevada run
ming as high as AZ cents per mile
the highest of any Western state. In
case of travel over branch lines. the
cost was as high as SIS cents per
mile, compared with rates as low as
3.59 cents In other mountain states.
Mr. Shaughnessy declared the ques-
ton of rates would be carried through
to the highest courts. and if redress
were not obtained there the matter
would be taken up in Congress.
There is no question that Nevada
is Disseminated against" he said.
Shippers in this state are paying far
too much for transportation, without
any such increase as is now asked
by the carriers"
Railroad attorneys have made it a
point to object to the introduction of
all exhibits and testimony affecting
rates, but all such exhibits
have been admitted by the examiner.
All evidence has tended to show a
for reduction of interstate
passenger rates instead of any in
crease.
The state commission throughout
it's handling of the case has taken the
position that the national rate-making
body has no jurisdiction over intra-
state rates, hence no evidence need
be presented in support of the refusal
by the state commission to permit
collection by the carriers of the high
er rates. The commission contends
its ruling ON that subject is final, and
declares it will fight in the courts
any attempt of the national body to
review that decision.
The subject of passenger fares was
about completed by noon Wednesday
and it was expected the hearing would
take up the question of freight rates
in the afternoon.
A four-line wantad-50 cents for