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Show Will HOLD HEARING 01 FREIGHT RATES "WASHINGTON, March 2S. Suspension Suspen-sion pending investigation of all increases in-creases in freight rates proposed by the railroads of the country in. their forthcoming forth-coming applications for a general advance ad-vance appeared tonight to be the course which the interstate commerce commission commis-sion probablv will follow when the railroads rail-roads file toeir proposals. Such suspension, it was indicated, would not be for the customary period of six months, but probably would be not to exceed sixty days. Hearings will be held, it is understood, and shippers, commercial and civic organizations, state utilities commissions and other interested in-terested parties will be heard. Hale Hold en, president of the Chicago, Chica-go, Burlington & Quincy, representing the western roads, announced after a conference late today with Commissioner Commission-er MeChord that western roads would file their formal petition for increased rates next week. At the conclusion of yesterday's conference Mr. Holden asked the commission to indicate if it would entertain such a petition. He said today that the petition would be filed without waiting formal subscription subscrip-tion on this point by the commission. Mr. Holden did not indicate what percentage of increase the western roads would ask, but it is understood that they will join the eastern lines in asking ask-ing 15 per cent. Committees of both eastern and western lines, Mr. Holden said, were working on the proposals in New York. A postponement of argument in the intennountain rate cases, set for April 3 and 4, may be ordered in view of the latest developments and of the influence which a decision on the proposed general gen-eral advance might have on the inter-mountain inter-mountain rates. |