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Show IRAIL REVENUE INCREASE R JPAST81 AOfOR Protestant of Freight Rate Raise Are Jubilant on Admission Made by O. S. L. Company Official By E. J. David ONE of the most damaging admissions ad-missions by a witness called ill behalf of the railroads in their application for a 15 per cent increase in-crease in freijrlit rates in Utah, wai made by I-. R- Wood, auditor of the Oregon Short Line railroad, before be-fore the state public utilities commission commis-sion today. Mr. Wood gave evidence to the effect ef-fect that he did not believe that Increased In-creased revenue this year would meet the increased cost of Operation. He cited certain instances where expenaea would be greater, paying particular attention at-tention to taxes. The witness said that the company would have to pay many thousands of dollars additional j in taxes. Commissioner Blond then asked the I witness how be arrived at the estl-I estl-I male. He said that the estimate was I made tn New York and admitted that It was evidently taken on the business dane by the road in 1916. Hy thla lie menat that there would be more evrenue obtained by the road this year. Thia admission caused Jubilation In the ranks of the protcslants to the railroad's application. The railroads have contended that I they do not believe that the revenue I will be greater this year than last year. By tlie estimate made in New York and admitted by Mr. Wood, It shows that a greater revenue la expected. ex-pected. EVIDENCE FOR STATE. The evidence forma one of the chief reasons why freight rates In I'tah, far from being advanced should be reduced. re-duced. By Mr. Wood's admission the. Protestants scored a point that absolutely abso-lutely dtssipatea the contention of the j railroads and a decision against the I railroads as a result of the admission j is now inevitable. I Mr. Wood stated that the Oregon j Short Line railroad had millions of dollars dol-lars invested in other railroads. I W. S. McCarthy, vice president of the traffic service bureau of Utah, re-i re-i minded him tlui some of the invest f ments were made in 1915, the year t In which the Western advance rates case was heard. Mr. McCarthy commented com-mented on the fact that despite the fact that railroads at the time were crying about a need for more money and atatfng tlirt they faced wreck and ruin that the Oregon Short Line railroad rail-road Invested f jnds In sucb companies on the "brink of disaster." Mr. McCarthy also brought to the attention of the commission that the railroad was desirous of obtaining equipment The records showed that the company had the money for such material, yt i.lstead of spending It, it devote t the rash to the buying ot bonds and tken came to the people and asked for a 15 per cent increase In freight rrtes. He charged that the position of the railroads was preposterous. prepos-terous. - |