Salt Lake Telegram | 1910-07-22 | Page 1 | Western Lines Also Suspend Rate Increase

WESTERN VESTERN LINES ALSO SUSPEND LI RATE INCREASE Held field Up Until November 1 Meantime Commission Will Investigate VA WASHINGTON TON July 22 It It wa was announced today after a conference between Chairman Knapp of the tho interstate interstate inter inter- state commerce commission and a committee com corn of tho traffic c officials of the western trunk lines that tho the advanced ad rates ratos filed by the carriers would bo be suspended voluntarily until November November Novem Novem- ber 1 Tho The a agreement cement in effect is tho the same substantially as that made mado between the tho commission and tho the eastern lines It means that all aU important and general gen gen- cn eral oral increases in freight rates that wore to have become effective on August AUtust 1 will be postponed post until the tho commission shall havo have had opportunity to determine deter mine nino whether they are reasonable or not It does dOM not follow that the tho suspensions will bo be mado permanent In the view of tho the commission and rate rato officials of of- it is certain that some of the advances ad will vill be approved eventually The action o of the railroads in voluntarily voluntarily volun volun- suspending tho the a advances was taken with a view to simplifying a a 3 complex situation and embarrassment Tho The direct suspension by the commission commission commission commis commis- sion of tho the tariffs proposing advances in rates would have been a monumental clerical task By tho the terms of the agreement existing exist exist- int ing ng rates will continuo continue in effect until that hat date Meantime tho commission commission proposes to undertake tho the hearin hearing of the ho companies involved in the tho proposed increase in rates Already it if has boon boen decided that the testimony in in the tho cast cast- ern era cases will bo heard beard in n New York City beginning on August 15 The taking taking tak take ing int of testimony in iu the tho western cases will bo be begun in Chicago on August 22 It is regarded retarded a ns as probable that postponement postponement post post- will viII have to bo be taken as tho the railways aro are not Dot expected to be pro pro- pared for the hearings for some somo time