Show RAILWAYS OPEN FIGHT TO BOOST RATES IN STATE Witnesses for Carriers Testify Testify Testify Tes Tes- at Hearing Held by I. I C. C C. C Examiner Railroads operating in Utah Wednesday Wednesday Wed Wed- nesda opened their battle for increased increased increased in in- creased Intrastate freight rates against Utah shippers at an interstate commerce commission hearing in the federal building G. G H. H Mattingly examiner ex cx presided The carriers who appealed to the interstate commerce commission fol following Ia- Ia ol- ol lowing action of the thc slate state public utilities utilities utilities ties commission which denied rate increases on Intrastate shipments inline in inline inline line with recent increases granted by bythe bythe the thc interstate commerce commission fo for by interstate shipments were first to present their case Wednesday Witnesses from the Union Pacific system and the Denver Rio Grande Western railroad occupied the stand during the major part of the the- morning session and told how their lines had suffered from a steadily decreasing income PRESENTS EXHIBIT IT R R. Oregon Short Line railroad auditor presented many exhibits exhibits ex ex- hibits to bear out the thc contention One was a statement of 12 railroads operating in Utah which showed that the thc combined net operating income of the roads for tor the first 12 months of 1932 decreased 56 09 per cent as compared compared com cam pared with the same period for 1931 or from Irom to 1450 It was pointed out that the Southern South South- em ern Pacific lines suffered the thc greatest Income slash from in 1931 to In 1932 for tor the first three months month of each year I H. H E. E Godwin general freight agent I for the Union Pacific system during I his testimony compared increases recently re re- allowed by the thc interstate commerce com corn merce commission on interstate shipments shipments ship ship- ments with Intrastate rates now in effect ef ct- cf- cf feet in Utah He said the thc intrastate rates are discriminatory against the thc railroads as compared with interstate rates for the same commodities hauled the same distances HUNDREDS LISTED Hundreds of commodities are arc listed in tn the railroads' railroads petitions and include cottonseed meal cake cabba cabbage e coal onions tomatoes beet pulp eggs meat coke copper and concentrates lime rock salt sulphur petroleum oil and gasoline Iron pipe and fittings brick and artificial stone Dana T. T Smith of Omaha assistant valuation and commerce counsel for forthe forthe forthe the Union Pacific system was in charge charce of f presentation of evidence by witnesses for or the system J. J A. A Gallaher of Denver attorney for the Denver Rio Grande Grand Western Western West West- em ern railroad directed the carriers' carriers case cas for a portion of the session He called George Georce Williams traffic manager manager man man- ager l cr for the D D. R R. G. G W. W who testified tied fled concerning conditions on that road His lis testimony paralleled that of Mr and Mr Godwin Utah shippers will be allowed to present their case at the thc conclusion of the carriers' carriers evidence The interstate commerce commission decision willI will not be given civen here but a transcript of I the thc case will be forwarded to Washington Wash Wash- ington D. D C C. C with Mr Mattingly's report report report re re- re- re port and recommendations It will be reviewed before the commission after which a decision will be handed down |