The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-06
Representatives Of Railroads
Refuse 10 Accept Reeds Plan.
Chairman Of P. c. c. Says Car
riers- Are Net Fair.
ALLEN HEARS FIRST ROUND
Revised Case Is Heard Before
Commissioners W. A. DisqHe.
?. L. c. Expected to Show About
$4,000 Determinations.

Lawyers FOR the common carriers
and Clyde " Reed. chairman u the
public utilities commission elashed
today at the opening Of the railroad
rate case before william l. Disque.
commissioner for the interstate com
msrCe commission ReprezenraEfves
q the railroads fatty refused TO ac-
cepc a stipulation proposed by Reed.
On the other hand Reed resented gues
tons as to interpretation Of his pro-
p0saI and asserted the carriers were
not fair. CfOverut- Allen Witnessed
the opening round Of the revived rate
fight
Following presentation Of A srfouIa-
ton which he said would save much
tine and relieve the + G. c from re-
viewing a hesvy record. Reed read
many citations n support OF his claim
Tor a revision Of freight rates. When
he concluded hi statement. tho there
was Immediately a cross fire Of ques-
tons from lawyers and Comm Isslonsr
Disque. Reed asserted MS stipulation
was offered IN good faith but declined
requests to 90 into 4 discussion OF its
details
Asks Fer More Than He Wants.
TT would seen 10 ne remarked
Commissions Disgue. that Judge
Reed is really asking for more than
he wants
Reed smiled. question came
from the carriers counsel table
Possibly the examiner viii appre-
ciare it Z you viii direct yOUr remar
10 him" was Reeds rather sarcastic
rer0rr-
Then Reed stated that the public
utilities commission would exhibit
from 10000 to so 900 Determinations
against iutrasuate shippers IL the case
went into detail He asserted that
-th0usa 1ds OF existing tariffs ara not
illegal and have not been properly
published
IF you stick to the rule that where
tntrastats rates are SHOVE to be high
er than the lowest iuterstate rate
said the examiner. would you adhere
also 90 the ruIe thac~where Interstate
rates are lower that they should be
raised az we'll as the intrastaCe rates
increased p"
Tho utilities commission chairnla Il
didn't give a direct answer 70 the
question Instead he said that the
purpose Of the stipulation was TO meet
these conditions and work them out
1cros1 the table
Many Questions Asked
Then the railroad lawyers started
after Reed ". tn 4 voIley Of questions.
The utilities commission chaIrz1a 4
fought back evasiveIy and refused to
ma fs d definite statement = his pIan
or TO outline the course which he *
Z
tw .1ly minutes il was a Cross fire Of
quest 0na and answers
James A. Coleman, general counsel
Tor the santa Ee, Insisted Reed was
Eeua rdIng every element Of fairues,
from the carriers but vas not extend
ing the same spirit OF fairness in his
own action Reed replied hotIy and
s1id the railroads should say whether
they would accept or reject the stfpu-
latl0u- Coleman answered with 4 posi-
tive no and followed IL with A de-
and Tor a clear cut definition Of the
state commissions demand
When the noon recess cane the
herring rad progressed no further
than Reed > proposal Of a stipulation
which the railroads fatty and en-
phaCicalIy rejected This afternoon
testimony IS being offered by the com
mission showing IN detail mary tariff.
published by the railroads under the
new rate order where it is alleged dis
elimination exists IN favor of inter.
state shippers and against lutrascats
shippers Much Of this testiruou~ va.
offered recently before Judge CGttsra
- the federal court when the commits.
sion sought to eni0iu opera rf0a OF the
new rates At that time the fedora
judge refused To accept the state
theory Of rate making.
May Last Two Days.
1t is probable that the rate case VII
occupy the attention Of COMMISSIONS
DfsVue at least Two days. A settinl
aside - thousands Of freight rate ad
vances is asked by the state commits
sion on the allegation that .ntras-ar