Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1910 — SHIPPERS WILL FOOT BILLS [ARTICLE]

SHIPPERS WILL FOOT BILLS

Must Stand for Mistakes of Railroad, Witness Testified. The shippers will contribute an additional $6,483,960 annually to the Burlington’s freight revenue for the next four, five or more years, according to Fj E. Ward, general manager of the road, who testified before the interstate commerce commission at Chicago. Cross-examined by Attorney J. H. Atwood, for the shippers he declared that the shippers would pay for the mistakes and blunders of the railroad. The statement created a stir, and was considered the most vigorous deft issued by the western railroads at this hearing, where shippers are battling against the threat of roads to increase freight tariffs on different commodities/ Asked to explain if $15,000,000 a year expenditure for improvements was necessary, according to his earlier testimony, he said “Yes.” It developed that the exact amount of the increase is $6,483,960, or from 7 to 8 per cent. “I suppose that you believe that the shipper should pay for the blunders and mistakes of the roads?” asked Attorney Atwood. “Why, yes,” replied Mr. Ward. Adjournment of the hearing by Commissioner Clark wih rollow closely upon the testimony of G. O May, of New York, a public accountant, who is familiar with the earnings of railroads of the United States and Europe.