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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1914)
TTTE BEE: OMAHA, FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1914. MR. REA MAKES FINAL PLEA y- Head of Pennsylvania Revicwi the xtauroad Situation. ALL LINES ARE IN BAD PLIGHT ays Mararln netrrn-n Gross neTcting and Operatlna Expcnm U crcjvlna Money Needed' for Improrements. WASHINGTON, April 2.-Presldent Ilea of tho Pennsylvania system was the latt witness to be heard' today before the In terstate Commerce commission, on behalf of-the eastern railroads asking for an In crease In freight rates. Oral testimony for the roads was concluded with his statement. Chairman Harlan and Commissioners Clerk and Meyer were on the bench. Dr. tDumba. Austria-Hungarian ambassador, and his guest, Prince llunster of Derne burg, were Interested auditors. J T. Wallls, general superintendent of motive power of the Pennsylvania, In- frrrnm1 hv rilffnrH Thorns. exDlalned that sUel cars and heavier locomotives had induced an increase Irt repair coat, white higher wages materially had added to that Item of expense. J. S. Rodgers. general superintendent of the Pennsylvania testified that the "charges to operating expenses on the Pennsylvania system, east of Pittsburgh, were $24,855,624 In 1910, and 2,1,210 In 1S1J, an increase of 18.3 per cent." He said hnt idmish for malntalnonco of way .during 1913 were much greater than ever before and probably would remain at tne present high level because of large In creases In wages; the policy of regulatory bodies increased demands of the travel ing and dipping public, the necessity for a. higher standard of track structure and roadbed on account of heavier equip ment and traffic, and the polloy of eliminating gride crossings, establishing various unfp.tv devices and systems; straightening lines and similar .works. He Indicated, also, the higher cost or rails, anrl mtrllm used in ballasting the road bed. He dwelt particularly on the cost of safety appliances, demanded both by law and public sentiment. KmiI Hfnrn Net Income, President Kea said that not only the Pennsylvania, but all American railroads were confronted with the necessity of imnehmsnL which might prove serious, unless they were permitted to Increase their net Income. He said: "Unless the gap between receipts and expenditures can be widened, we must begin to retrench, and retrenchment must betterments and Improvements not directly necessary to the movement of trains. W should be very reluctant to do this,- as it would be to run counter to our tradition and. practice of half a century, and we are sure .that it wouW not be '.in the public interests, and we do not believe the public desires ,it. . . "Now we have as much public support as can possibly be given to a plan, almost national In its scope and effect, and we firmly believe our application for a very moderate freight rate Increase is in ac cord' with the best public interest." While he did not assert that the ad vance was "necessary to the mainte nance of the Pennsylvania railroad com pany's dividends In the Immediate fu ture," Mr. Rev declared that "any gen eral idea, that the Pennsylvania's posi tion, was,' jo strong asnoX to j&I any additional- revenue is not- corrects He added ."that the Pennsylvania had earned only 4.84 per cent during the fiscal year of IMS. Look: Into Future .Developments. Discussing the desirability of the Ne cessity to. provide for future traffic de mands, Mn Ilea said: "We also know that it is unwise and Impossible; to limit new facilities fo ac tual and Immediate necessities. , "Necessarily that Involves a large ex penditure of money that only gradually becomes productive. We know that Judg ing from our past experience, many mil lions could be advantageously expended on the system In the next few years. We have confronting u a program of expenditures, which wo believe to be es sential, some of them nfalnly for the benefit of the public, but all of them necessary to properly accommodate the present and future traffic. "It Is unwise, as well as unnecessary, to commit ourselves to any large fixed program of expenditures, except to say that without assurance of adequate earn ings they cannot proceed, and a reason able portion of the cost of these future enlargements and Improvements ought, in our Judgment, to be provided from surplus earnings." Conclusion at Mr, Ilea. Mr. Rea's conclusions, which he indi cated applied concretely to the Pennsyl vania and. generally to all other roads, were, these 1 The margin of surplus Is steadily diminishing and the company Is not ret celvlng any return either on the addi tional capital Invested, or for tho value of the 'service rendered and the facilities provided for public use. 2 Had there been no surplus in earlier years, and had the whole of the improve ments been paid for out of the capital, the margin would now have reached the vanishing point. S If turplus steadily decreases, im provements, if made at all. will more and more need to bo made out of new capital. 4 Hut If the margin of safety decreases, new capital will only be raised with greater difficulty and on more onerous ffindeed, it Is questionable whether, If imw capital Is to continue to earn no in come, tho directors will be Justified In attempting to raise more than a modicum ' of what tney believe necessary, as, the ef fect must bo 4o reduce the percentage return on the shareholders' capital al ready invested. Fifteen Years' Comparison. President Rea concluded his direct itatement with the following comparison of the condition of the railroads. In 1838 and 1913: "In 1?9S the company was emerging from a rlod of prolonged and very se ere expression, whereas in WIS It wa at the end of a great period of growth. It would be naturat under ordinary cir cumstances that the owners of the prop erty should find themselves very much letter off In 1913 than they were In 1898. the fifteen years between 1898 and 1913 the company had the benefit of the following: "An advance In 'certain commodity rates. "The abolition of rebates. "The expenditure of hundreds of mil lions of capital for Improvement and en lavement of facilities and equipment "A consequent great Improvement In efficiency and use ot plant. "In the fifteen years, 1S38 to 1913, prop erty Investment Increased from about 872,000, CO) to almost 11,387,000.000, or "5 per cent; operating revenues Increased from a little less than 8145,000,000 to over 8382,000.000, or 163 per cent: operatlng'rev enue per mile of track operated increased from 88,178 to 815,261, or 87 per cent, the company thus had during these fifteen years all the benefits arising from a re-i markablo growth of business, both In vol ume and density, whith ordinarily under tho law of Increasing returns should have materially Improved the position of Its owners. Return Are Decreasing. "But as a matter of fact, tho return on property investment in 1S13 was only 6.48 per cent as against 8.43 per cent In 1898, and furthermore was tho smallest return In any of the fifteen years of the Period; the percentage of net corporate income (plus interest on funded debt) on total capital obligations In 1913 was but 6.88 per cent, against 6. $5 per cent In 1898, and with the exception ot the year 1899 It Is tho lowest of any year In the fifteen-year period; the net corporate in come per cent on capital stock outstand ing held by the public In 1913 was only 9.64 per cent, against S.53 per cent In 1898, and here also the 1913 figure Is tho lowest for any year In the fiftecn-year period, with the single exception of 1899, when tho figure was 8.94 per cent, "Tho conclusion to be drawn from these facts is that the Increase ot expends and other outlays beyond the' company's power to control has finally overcome the advantages thus far realized ot ad vanced rates, abolition of rebates, In creased volume. and density ot business, large expenditures of capital and Im provement In plant and methods. The company Is now confronted by a rapidly decreasing rate ot return on property Investment and capital obligations, and Is unable to offset these tendencies by any methods which It can at present apply, or which seem to be practically possible other than an advance In rates." Old Favorites For Everybody All the Dear Old Songs Sorr rironght Together in One Volume. Some people like old wine; many people love old friends, and everybody loves tho old songs. As previously announced, The Bee is offering a complete collection of all the old favorite songs brought together in ono beautiful big volume called "Bongs That Never Grow Old." AU ot theoe Bongs havo been compiled and selected with the utmost care by tho most competent authorities and are printed and bound all together, making seven song books in one volume There ore two stylea of binding, one in paper covers and tho other in heavy English cloth. The contents are the same, but, ot course, the cloth binding is more dur able and with ordinary care should last a lifetime. An innovation in this edition are the magnificent inllustratlons. These consist of a rare galaxy of sixty-nine wonderful portraits of the world's greatest vocal artists, many in favorite costumes. The list includes Caruso, Tetrazlnni, Mclba, Slezak, Farrar, Bond, Gorttx, Scott), Frcmstad and almost fifty others. None of these portraits havo ever been shown in a work of this character, and they are all reproduced from copyrighted phto graphs which have been approved by the artists themselves. "Every reader will want to possess this rare and unlquo col lection. In another collmn ot this Issue wjll be found a coupon In which Is explained the plan of distributing this beautiful book of eongs. The Bee will undertake to dis tribute an entire edition within a limited tlmt and readers are urged to lose no time in familiarising themselves with the plan. ' Famllyv Burned to Death. PITTSBURGH, April 2. Two. police men were seriously burned and an entire family consisting of the father, mother and three children were reported missing as the result of a fire early today. Four frame tenement houses were destroyed. Policemen and firemen rescued more than a score ot persons. BRANDEIS STORES SATURDAY SALES 275 Dresses in Silk or Cotton, Worth up to $20, on Sale at an Extreme Low Price Rose Bushes 1 OC Each I Al General Jacqueminot, Crimson Rambler, La France. ' Klllarney, Yellow Rambler, Dorothy Perkins, Blue Rambler. Baltimore Bell. SO Peonies, Hydrangea, Honeysuckles, Lilacs. Clematis, , Phlox. Bhasta Daisy, and others. All 10c Each Large Size Kid Body Dolls, worth $1 and $1.25, Q Saturday . . . Sale of Drugs and Toilet Goods Saturday Sale of Women's Handbags, Saturday at . $1 Sale of 2,800 pairs Women's Gloves, worth up to $2, 2d Anniversary Sales in the Basement Cotton Crepe Tho most practical wash fabric for houso drosseB, waists, otc, in largo floral designs. 30 Inches wide. Reg ular 15c quality, yard. Sale of Suits and Dresses Worth $12.50, $15 ana1 $17.50 Women '3 Hosiery Fine cotton with doubjo heels and toos. All black or black with mucu ieoi. worth reg. ularly to 10c. In base ment Friday at $8.75 The Dresses Hundreds from which to choose, including taffetas, poplins, mossn llnes, crepes, etc.. In nil now styles, with drapes, folds, tier skirts and other smart ideas. The latest styles In sleeves and collars. Many aro copies of high prlco modols. All worth $12.50, $13.50 and $15. Choice Friday at 98.70. Basement. women's vests Coats Worth $7.50 to $10, at $4.85 Womens shaped colton vests with taped neck and arm eye. Cuff knoo pants to match. Worth to 25c. Special Friday, gar Silk Boot Hosiery Wnmfln'a Mi 1 w vrswi o umujt IlUr3 silk boot hosiery. Wide garter tops, double solos, lislo spliced heels and toes. Worth to 35c, at, pair Dress Goods Samples Importers' samples of dress goods In over 200 styles and weaves. Used as Importer's house samples. Spe cial, each 5can(f9c Corsets For medium and Blonder figures. Made of coutll. Lace trim mod. Long over hips, with four garters at tached. Regularly 59c, Friday- Lining Remnants A ITPAt Inf Ienclna nf flnA mi.iii. lining satin 1n various opeciai riaay In basement, each piece 2Ci 50 and 9c Women's and misses' short spring coats ot serges. satins and novelty cloths, with lace collar and cuffs; also long coats of silk, satin and serges. Actual $7.60 find $10 coats, at $4.83. $3.50 Rain Coats, $1.69 women's excellent quality rub berised raincoats at a bargain price Friday. Very well made of i cloth, with rubber Inside. Values up to $3:50. Friday ti Q only P JL Oa7 Muslinwear Gowns, princess slips, drawers, skirts and combi nations worth 76c to $1; on sale Friday, 45c. The Suits A wonderful group of women's and misses' spring suits, Including many worth $12.50 to $17.50, all for l?8.75 Friday. Latest styles, with jaunty short coats, now sleoves and lace collars. Fold, drape and tier skirts. Flno sorgos, crepes, diagonals, novolty cloths and mixtures, In a complete selec tion of tho best new colors. Basement. Lace Curtains m 1 Cable net, filet net H B and flno Nottingham H. Atf laco curtains. Regular ff prlco $1.50 to $2 u m r pair. Whllo three casos V fij last, each i lf1A J Wide Embroideries 27-ln. ouibrotderles Including flounulngs, allovers and wnlstlngs, in fine bwIgr and nain sook. Qualities worth to 00c, at. yard Sample Wash Waists Hundreds of white and colored wash waists of fine crepes, voile: and tissues, a makers' samples, ami an worm ii.bo. ctioice Fri day In tho basement at. Special Lots of Skirts $2.39 & $1.39 1 Bed spreads Fino Marseilles bod spreads. Sea 1 1 o p o d with cut corners; also plain hemmed. Some slightly soiled. Regu lar $5 values, at S2.50 Child's Dresses Children's white lawn dresses, trimmed with em broidery. Ages 6 to 14. $1 garments, Friday, 48c. Women's and mlssos' now spring skirts with all tho smart style features, folds and tiers. Made of excellent quality materials. Extra sizes Included. Very special Friday in Basotnont. 93410 and 91.30. Children's Rain Canes Plain color and striped rubber- I Ized rain capos for girls of 6 to 14 years ot age. Made good and 1 full. Have plaid lined lioodB. Ac tual $2 capes. Special Q7 f I House Dresses Twenty-four stylos in women's houso drosses ot ginghams, lawns, madras and per cale, choice, 07c. '; 87o Friday at Wash Waists Women's white and col ored wash waists with long or short sleeves and low or high collars. Special, 38c. Anniversary Sale in the Basement Shoe Store Odds and ends ol women's pumps and oxfords in small sizes. Tans and black. Also satin slippers in colors All worth J2.5Q r more Choice Friday Women's kid house slippers with straps and hand turned soles, Sizes up to 5 only. Regularly worth $1.60 pair. Friday, Efi special OUC 25c Hundreds of pairs of women's pumps and oxfords in good spring stylos, In back or tan. Excellent qualities; regularly worth $2.50; on salo Friday J 1 Women's Juliet houso slippers with floxlblo soles and rubber heels. Plain or patent tips. All Biros t 4 Special at . . .f. ; . . ; P JL Children's pumps and oxfords slzeB up to 2. Patent, dull or tan leathers. Worth up to $1.75. Special Friday at Handkerchiefs Fine sheer llnewoave, with corded or fancy colored borders; also men's India llnon. Some all linen. Blight-, ly imperfect, at. each. Boys' $3 Norfolk Suits $-fiQ Boys' $5 Serge Suits $i)lft A very special bargain ln tne Basement I JLJ Boys strictly all-wool blue serge suits, TEV Anniversary Sole Friday. Our boys' 1 3 Nor- jVWT In Norfolk styles, for acres 6 to 14 years. B folk suits, in blues, browns and grays, on M w A negular 5 suits on sale Friday in the base- ftM' n ment Anniversary Sole Friday. Our boys' 13 Nor- folk suits, in blues, browns and crays. on M, ha.1a nt . . . . Boys' 75c Knickerbockers Knickerbockers or blue, brown and irray twoeds and diagonals, every pair made with belt loops, regular 76c values, at Men's Union Suits Worth $1.25, Very fine quality sprint: welcht short sleeve union suits, worth- to I,2S, Fri day ln tho basement for only 3 nsnM m v w i m 39c W mm Boys' Sample Raincoats $ i' or Friday in the Basement Anniversary Hales we offer a lot of sample raincoats for boys of 4 to 12. $2 to )3 garments, special.. Men's $1 Underwear, Friday, Men's sample spring and summer drawers, undershirts and union suits, of lisle and silk lisle, worth to fl, for..,. Kid Gloves Odds and ends of long and short kid gloves. Somo are mendod. Others por foct, but soiled. For merly priced much higher, pair Untrimmed Hats, AO Worth to $2.50, for...JOC The newest blocks ln untrimmed horap shapes in small medium and large sizes. Black, white and burnt shade. Also a large assortment of silk top hats. All worth up to $2.50. Cholco Friday at 08c. IJascment. Millinery Trimmings An Immense line of ostrich pon poms, flower wreaths, clusters, fruits and fo liage, in all the season's best shades. Specially priced for Friday in the basomont at 39c, 49c, 79c and 98c Pants Worth to $2.50 at $1 SAA nnlra nf mn'n wnrlr nntita In twnnrifi and worsteds all sizes, 34 to 44. Worth up to $2.60. On sale in the basement Fri day at $1.00. Slipon Raincoats at $1.98 Men' slipon raincoats ot double texture, spot proof, waterproof fabrics, with cemented seams. All sizes, 34 to 44, Values up to $6, on sale Fri day in basement at 91.98. Union-made overalls, special ln the base ment at 4Bo. Genuine Soisetta Dress lengths ot mercerized solsette. Name printed on sel vage. All desirable spring shades. 32 in. wide; 25c quality, yard m mr i mw m lueaa mines m 0u 69c quality silk I masa,,D0 ,n bIa and I wide range of coIor. 1 f IfSi n l?WB the I m wSm t,nts- Spec,aI 'or 1 1 riday. yard Fancy warp print ribbons, 4 aid 5 inches wide. Special at, yard 4-inch messaline ribbons. Good colors. For trimming or rosettes, yard Remnants of colored oil damask. The 50c quality. Special, yard Heavy, double ply Turkish bath towels, Regular 15c values. Special at Remnants of Rosemary table damask. 2 to 3-yd. lengths. Perfect. Yard .... Half linen huck towels, blue borders, 71 Worth 12Ve. Limit 1 dozen, each.... 2i Heavy double fleece table padding. Regular 50c quality. Special, yard. . Mill ends dimity bedspreads. Some for full or size beds Choice Orochet bedspreads. 72x84-inch size. Regularly priced $1. Choice at All wool challies in new designs. Tho 49c quality, special at, yard. . . . 50c to 69c silk remnants, 2 to 8 yards. Nearly every weave, yard , 15c 10c 35c 10c 19c 29c 29c 66c 23c 25c 89c 2,000 yards 36-inch serge twills. Navy, brown, garnet, etc. Worth 20c, yard. . . vC 40-inch silk and wool poplins, 27 desir- QQp able shades, verv special at wOL Oorseta in odd sizes. Good styles. $2 and $1.50 values. Basement at.. Brassieres. Good quality muslin. Em- 4 r broidery trimmed. 25c values JLwL Men's shirts. Negligee and outing styles. Values to $1, special tfuj 17-inch corset cover embroideries and flouncings. Worth to 15c, yard Inserting and beadinrrs of Swiss, nain sook and cambric. 3 to G inches, yd. 12 and 16-inch shadow corset coverings. Beading top and bottom, yd , Women's swiss jibbed cotton vests. Reg- Qi ular 12,l:c values, Friday, special 0 2j Men's heavy mixed coarse knit sox. Rockford style. Worth to 10c, pair. . Children's fine and heavy ribbed school 71 hosiery. Worth to 121 2c. nair i Sir 8e .. 6c 12c Wash Fabrics An assorted lot which has accumulated during our March sales. Lengths from 1 to 20 yards. Worth to 35c. Friday at, yard Wallace Silverware About Half Price itI" A special purchase for the Anniversary Sales ln the basement enables us to offer this well known tablo sllvor at extreme low prices. French grey finish handles. Very artistic pattern, Pure white metal base, heavily plated. The most reliablo silver plate were ware over offered at a low price. Teaspoons, set of C, 75c value, aoc. Dessert spoons, worth $1, set, 60c. Table spoons, worth $1,26, set, Gf)c. Sugar1 shells, worth 25c, each, 10c. Butter knives, worth 26c, each, 10c. Cold meat forks, worth 60c, at 2ftc. Gravy ladles, worth 50c, each, 25c. Berry spoons, worth C9c, each, 'Mc. Orange spoons, worth $1, set, 80c. Pickle forks, worth 25c, each, 14c. Knives and forks to match, worth $3 dozen. Special ln this sale, dozen, 91.70, Pis Notions J. O. King's beat thread, 10c dozen. Dress snap fasten ers, lc card 3-in-l machine oil, Oc bottle. Darning cotton, 4 balls, Sc. Hair Nets, loo doien. 100-yard spools sew- in BI1K, 3ftO. J'ins. 10 paper. Coat hangers, 3 for So.