Show CALIFORNIA FREIGHT RATES Commission Gains a Point Against the Southern Pjveific SAN FRANCISCO Jan 15The California railway commission won a point today in the injunction suit now pending in the United States circuit court by which the Southern Pacific company seeks to restrain the commission com-mission from reducing the freight rates on the railroad Judge McKenna ruled today that depositions and evidence evi-dence taken before the congressional commission in 188687 when various officials of the Southern Pacific testi fed to the roads cost and maintenance mainten-ance may be admitted in the present proceedings The depositions were objected to because the officials of the company made them in their private vate capacity as citizens and not as officers of the company The court overruled this objection however holding hold-ing that the inquiry of the congressional congres-sional commission took on such official character to entitle it to be das d-as evidence In the present action The court ruled however that while the depositions could be admitted that the report of the congressional congessIonal commission com-mission and the presidents comments thereon In his message to congress are barred as being mere conclusions of those by whom they were prepared based on testimony taken The decision de-cision opens the door for the introduction introduc-tion of a great mass of printed matter The reading of the depositions will probably occupy many days |