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Show W. L. PABK TELLS WHAT IS FAIR REVENUE CHICAGO, Sept. 20. Alleged manipulation manipu-lation of a rallro.ul'H income to covor up .earnings and to compound Its Income was Inqnircd Into today by attorneys for the western shippers of officers of thi Illinois Illi-nois Central railroad before the interstate inter-state commerce commission In the rate hearing now In progress. Interesting opinions on tho propriety of disposition of earnings wuro given by General Manager V". L. Park. Mr. Park has told tho commission he thought a proper freight rate was one that rendered a fair return for scrvlco to the shipper, and which, after paying a reasonable dividend on tho capital slock, paid fixed charges and operating and maintenance expenses, and would also givo tho company a yearly surplus of six or seven millions, "to mako tho Investment Invest-ment attractive to people with money, and to give tho company a credit." "And what would you do with this surplus, sur-plus, just hold it?" Inquired Attornev John H. Atwood of Kansas City, representing repre-senting the general shippers' committee. commit-tee. "N'o." was the reply. "1 would use it for bettering tho rond. For instance, I would devote a part of It to new depots, etc." |