Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 273, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1914 — HAD THE RAILROAD LAWYERS IN THE AIR [ARTICLE]

HAD THE RAILROAD LAWYERS IN THE AIR

John Bowie Conducted the Case Against' C. & E. I and Made Fine Showing Tuesday. The railroad attorneys for the C. & E. I. railroad were given all they could stand by a country editor Tuesday. The editor was none other than John Btowie,, of the Wheatfield ReView. f The case/was an action brought by the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad .to secure consent from the Indiana Public Service Commission to annul their passenger train service between LaCrosse and’ Goodland and substitute infixed train service. Mr. Biowie represented the Wheatfield Imprtovement Association. He prepared for the hearing which was cOndudtd at Wheatfield by subpoenaeing about one hundred and' fifty witnesses from along the route of the ts. & E. I. and from Rensselaer to testify that the passenger train constituted a public Utility and after a few of the witnesses had been examined before Hon. Charles J. Murphy, of the public service .commission, Mr. Murphy asked how many witnesses he had .who would tefoify to the same thing. He stated that he had one hundred and fifty and Mr. Murphy asked If they would all testify to substantially the and Mr. Bowie said they would. He said he did not care to hear any more and brought the ease ri a conclusion.

In opening the rase the railroad had placed a number of expert witnesses “on the stand to show that the train was being operated at a loss. Mr.'Bowie, who is an old railroad man, was able to ask’ a number of question® which greatly embarrassed the expert®. On one occasion the superintendent of maintenance for the C. & E. I. testified .that the upkeep of the round ■house at LaCrosse had increased $2,450 per year as .a result of the passenger train. When Mr. Bowie, cross-examined the witness he asked how niiatny men .were employed in the round house. The witness replied that he did not know. He then asked the dimensions of the round house and again the Witness replied that he did not know. (Mr. Bowie then asked: “Now to be honeist about this thing, is it not a fadt that therp i®no rtoundhouse aball and that the train, is simply run to a side track With no Cover whatever except the dome of God’s blue sky?” The superintendent was compelled to admit that this was the case yet his testimony had been to the effect that it® u'pr keep had increased $2,450 per year. Another item of increased expense was for operators, but Editor Bowie made them admit that not a. single new operator had been installed since the passenger train was installed. The railroad attorneys found themselves up against about the best posted opposition they had ever met and indications are that the train will be continued, which is certainly greatly to be desired. William C. WJiitsell, g traveling man from Jafiayeitfte, who was a Witness in the case, stated to The Republican that he never saw a case better handled than Editor BOwie handled it for the Wheatfield Improvement Association,. He said that he had the railroad lawyers puzzled all the tftne. Attorney HJalidek was associated with Editor Bowie, but the editor conducted the main examination. •’An expert investigator, for the publdte service commission is going over the road to ascertan the actual dost and the adbual revenue caused by the running of the passenger train and upon the result of this investigation to a considerable extent will hinge the fate pi the train,. Which by all means should be maintained as it affords the only means iriany people living along the road have of travel.