Show I I I I I II if I G. G C b. b HEARING BOTH SlOES SIDES IN RAil RATE HIKE I Score of Protests Received Few Messages Favor Carriers' Carriers Petition TAX RELI RELIEF SUGGESTED Farmers Are Declared Against Measure Br Ui Associated Press WASHINGTON June 18 The IS-The The Interstate interstate in in- te commerce commission today began beg hearing from both sides of or the question regarding the appeal of or the thc railroads for Increased freight rates Some of the letters and telegrams I were ere cre sent before the railroads filed tiled their heir petition for a 15 per cent raise esterday yesterday Others were sent Immedi tely after news dispatches told of the he filing flUng Many were addressed to President Hoover and d referred to the ston slon on by his secretary Nearl Nearly a score o of protests were made public at the commission offices A few communications Indicating Indi- Indi eatIng cating a belief that favorable action w would Uld be In the public interest have been received of North Dakota telegraphed graphed i 4 pr protest t st on nb be behalf half halt of the people of ot the state Many business business' concerns throughout the country also protested SUGGESTS TAX AID The United States Fisheries asso- asso elation suggested the railroads be relieved of some o of their taxes and that lat these be transferred to motor trucks William Bird Jr of ot New York told the he commission that in his travels over ver the country he had formed the belief clief the rate increase would be a good thing He suggested quick approval approval ap- ap by the commission If an injustice in in- justice is 15 found to have e been done he je said it can be corrected afterward He e expressed the belief an increase would result In Jobs for thousands of unemployed A score or more letters were re re- elved by the commission before the railroads announced the date on which they would present the peti- peti tion on Many protested against any rate ite advance Some presented Various various va- va rious ous plans for remedying the situa situa- tIon J. J S. S Brown manager of or the trans trans- Continued on Pace Two TRO Is II I. G. G G. G HEARING BOTH SIDES IN RAil RATE HIKE IE Continued from Pace Pare One department of the Chicago board of at trade asked that his organ be supplied with a a. copy of the petition but did not say whether It I would oppose the increase Speaking as an an individual and not for the farm board of which he Is 15 a a member Carl Williams said today any increase In freight charges on farm products would be most un popular The farmer now believes that rates are too high and that they should come down he said sard adding there was some justification for this belief bellet The prices of raw materials Wll WU- Hams said have gone down way ou out of proportion to the prices of f finished products and things the farmer must buy remain at high levels while the production of his bis farm has declined almost to the ground tIo I Williams pointed out It now costs two pounds of ot the farm fann commodity com corn to ta pay freight rn rates tes which one one pound a of the thc average commodity paid for In 1929 1920 In the case of cotton he ha said the transportation costs remained remained re re- re- re the same as asin in 1929 while cotton cotton cotton cot cot- ton pric prices s have be been cu cut one |