The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-05-19
LITTLE RELIEF
FROM D. :. |. IS
NOW IN SIGHT
Hearing for Traction
Company Nets no Tan
gible Gains; Further
Action Likely.

One week will be given the Oregon
Short Line for formal reply to the
application of the Caldwell Traction
company for absorption on differen-
tials on hay, grain, potatoes and fruit
shipments destined to points west of
Granger. In the event favorable ac-
ton from Wednesdays hearing here
before Joel Priest, general traffic
agent for the Oregon Short Line in
this district is not received in a week.
immediate steps will be taken to file
formal complaint before the inter-
state commerce commission.
Facts relative to the necessity of
absorbing Traction line differentials
if the line is to continue existance
were placed before Mr.. Priest We'd
nesday when about 90 Caldwell bust
ness men, representatives of the Trac-
ton company and shippers from the
Traction line territory met at the
Commercial club rooms. Upon COM
pletion of the hearing, Mr.. Priest in
formed those present that he had no
authority to give definite answer to
the appeal but that he would write
sympathetic" report of the proceed
ing to officials of the company and
would, as soon as received, forward
replies to Traction line officials.
Sentiment, as result of the hear
ing, is not changed from its original
viewpoint that no tangible relief can
be hoped for from the Oregon Short
Line. And, it is freely conceded, I'M
less immediate relief measures are OBJ
tanned, the Traction company must go
out of business.
Various speakers placed the plight
of the Traction company before Mr..
Priest. Perhaps the most effective
argument favoring absorption of
freight differentials on all feeder lines
came from Henry Griffiths. Mr..
Griffiths pointed out that the ton-mile
basis of compiling operating costs and
revenues on branch lines was hardly
fair, that branch lines were feeders
to the main system and that a por-
ton of the revenues to the main sys-
tenn can properly be apportioned back
to the feeder lines. Mr. Griffiths made
this point to bring the value of feeder
lines to the Oregon Short Line and
Mr.. Priest conceded that if all feeder
lines went out business, the total vol
ume of business handled by the main
line would suffer.
Other speakers brought out that
construction of the Homedale extern
sion would cut deeply into the Trac-
ton lines Sunny Slope business. Mr..
Priest asserted that for the time being
the Oregon Short Line expected or
hoped to maintain differentials on ship
ments from the Upper Gem district
over the new road although by inter-
state commerce commission ruling
those differentials have been removed
on the Nyssa-Homedale branch as
well as the Wilder and Nampa
branches.
Asked if he did not believe that
following out the precedent establish.
ed on these branches, the interstate
commerce commission would not re.
move differentials on all branch lines
of comparative lengths, Mr.. Priest
said that he was not in position to
answer. His questioners, however
seemed to feel that such action was
likely.
Frank Meek, attorney for the Cald'
we'll Traction company, Thursday
made this statement of the claims oil
the company for absorption of differ
entails:
Every branch line is probably los
ing money when consideration is Civ
en- closely to its own operating ex'
penses and revenues, In addition
the Oregon Short Line must keep ur
the property, pay taxes on it and pro-
vide rolling stock and equipment fol
its operation. If the precedent es
tablished by the interstate commerce,
commission means anything, we car
reasonably expect that main line com
panies must in the future, absorb al
short branch line hauling charges. W.
believe that IL the Oregon Short Linz
can afford to absorb differentials OF
their own branch lines, they can dt
so on the Traction line where taxes
upkeep and equipment are not born'
by the Oregon Short Line. And WI