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Show . AGREE TD INCREASE I IN RATES 01 MILK1! i Frotestants of Bamberger Road Petition Oppose j Other Advances, j Brief Complains That No Necessity for Raising Charges Appears. Brief filed yesterday by protestants from Davis county against the application applica-tion of the Bamberger Electric Railroad company for permission to increase freight and passenger rates indicates the willingness of the protestants to have the rate on mill; shipments increased 10 per cent, but opposes any other of the proposed pro-posed increases. The brief is signed by II. W. prlckett. as manager for the Traffic Service Bureau Bu-reau of Utah, the attorney for the protestants. protes-tants. These included the county commission com-mission of Davis county and several of the cities along the route. They are classed in the brief as Davis county shippers. The- railroad ai?ked for Increase In freight rates to the same basis as ia now in effect on competing steam carriers, federally controlled; for increase in passenger pas-senger commutation fares not to exceed JO per cent, and in student fares to a basis of 14 cents a mile, and for increases in-creases of approximately 25 per cent on milk and cream rates, to the rates now collected by competing express companies'. com-panies'. The increase in freight rates under federal control is declared in the brief to be in the nature of a war tax. The brief points out that the Bamberger's freight revenue increased more than $12,000 during 1918. Object to Comparisons. Objection is made to comparisons with the Salt Lake & Utah passenger rates, on the ground that the Bamberger carries car-ries nearly three times as many passengers passen-gers per mile as does the Salt Lake Utah. Reference also fa made to Increases In-creases in passenger fares allowed on the Bamberger ruad, January 1, 1917. The brief compares the 8-mill rate existing on the Lagoon traffic with the proposed commutation rate of approximately 12.5 mills per mile. Appeal in behalf of the present student rates is made with particular vigor, on account of the alleged effect a raise would have on the school system of Davis county. It is alleged that the present rates in effect are no lower than in force on a competing line. The brief submits that since the commission com-mission has permitted the Salt Lake Utali railroad a 10 per cent advance in ita milk rates, the Bamberger rates on milk "are comparatively low, compared com-pared with othor rates in force in different dif-ferent parts- of the western country." It is asked that an increase of 10 per cent be allowed in milk rates, but not in the rates on cream, the latter being said to be on a higher scale than are in effect in other western states. Denies Showing Need. The brief complains that the Bamberger line at no point has made a showing that the present rates are unreasonably low, and arKiies from this that until such a showing is made the increased rates should not be granted. It denies that any showing was made of additional revenue needed, and presents figures to show, that, had it not been for a $22,000 decrease in revenue, due to the influenza epidemic, profits for 191R would have been greater than in preceding years. Jt is Intimated that the million and a half . dollars of funded indebtedness of the railroad may', for all that the testimony testi-mony shows, cover the entire cost of the line, and submits that the railroad's property prop-erty investment exhibit shows more than $100,000 per mile of road invested, as compared with less than $40,000 a mile for the North western and a little over $70,000 per mile for the Union Pacific system. "Ail intrastate rates now in force between be-tween points in Utah on federal controlled con-trolled roads, sas the brief, must, under the existing law, automatically revert back to the basis in effect prior to the date of federal control; otherwise, they would be unlawful and in violation, of our statute, because this commission has not authorized the advanced rates made by the director general on Utah intrastate traffic." Service Appreciated. . The brief concludes: "It Is not the wish or the desire of this protestant that this commission should by its acts or orders do anything or permit anything to be done that would have the effect of preventing the .applicant .appli-cant from keeping its property in good condition and giving to it a fair return on the value of said property. Protestant Protes-tant fully appreciates the difficulties under which said aDplicant's line was constructed, and likewise appreciates the service rendered by said applicant to the public; and that it, as well as other electric line operating within the state of Utah, has had considerable to do with the development of the territory served by them. Protestant also believes that applicant's line is efficiently and economically eco-nomically handled; but submits, as herein here-in hef ore stilted, Hhat it should be required re-quired to show with reasonable certainty the necessity before the proposed increases in-creases (except an increase of 10 per cent on milk) are allowed.' " |