The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-01-23
Railroads Levy Tribute.
Unreasonable Increase IN
Rates During Past Year.

| ling increases made by the railways
during the past year III the rates tor
transportation are shown by an To-
spection Of statistics 10 the possession
of the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion, which show that of 824 changes
ia classification made, By carriers u.s.
ing the cficial eastern scale, 8l8 pro-
duoed raises aod only 6 reductions. lo
over half, the increase was over 40 per
cent apd 10 less than one twenty fifth IL
was as little as Is per cent. ln SIX
cases the rates we're doubled, while the
avdsege ipcreaee was over one third.
Changes in the southern Classification
show 531 advances AID oaIy 1O5 re-
ductioEs; those in the western sho"
24O iuoreases aue Only II reduos:ons-
By these changes 10 classification.
therefore, rates upon considerable
part Of freight traffic il ali portions of
the United States, many of them apply Z
| iog on the moss common articles Of
merchandise, we're very materially
advanced 70 addition macy con.
modify rates have been withdrawn,
thus making the articles affected tske
higher class rates.
These changes we're admittedly made,
not because OF any inequality 10 the
classI6cations-not because some artl'
cles we're found to be paying too lev
rates and others too high rates CON
paratiyely-but simply because the
railways tad determined to increase
their revenues, and instructed the
classification committee for that purpose
There was no claim Of soy unusual
oeed Of revenue. Not for years bad
traffic been SO heavy or gross receipts
so large, but it was insisted that the
cost ct operation had been enhanced
and ne. revenues would therefore be
decreased Comparisons have eesn
made for three large Eastern systems,
which show that the percentage OF
operating expenses to earnlogs vas
less 10 the year ending JUICE 80, 1890.
tbsu for the corresponding year los9,
or for the average from 1890 to 1895
Another CON parison of these statements
shows greater net esrniugs per mile for
1900 than for 1899, or for the average
from 1890 to 1898 It caDeot De said
what effsct these advances in rate, which
prevailed during the last half OF the
year 1900. may have had upoo the re-
suit for the entire year; but when 1t is
considered that gross receipts. aDd
eber.f,re net revenuea, enormously IN
eres sed during that year. it is evident
the. there is little in the claim that in.
creased cost of operation jus''aed these
advances 10 rate.
Pooling is prohibited by aot Of
congress aud auy ccmbinatioO to ra,se
rates is distinctly forbidden by the
Sherman aoti trust act. get here is
oase where in every part of toe country
carriers have by concerted actioo.
si.bout any notice to shippers, sno
indeed against the vehement protest OF
shippers, advanced their rates opop
large per,ioo of the merchandise
carried under class rates BY an average
Of one fourth to ooe third. The attorney
genera! of the United States. nean
whiie, si:s oupiDe 10 bis cfice and takes
no steps 30 cu,b the illegal exte'tlon
aad CON bioctios Of tie roads.
If this eort Of thing can be dooe WIN
respect to ooe portion of railway tr&tnc.
it CAP. it ls argued. be daos wi't rsspeot
to all of it; if ra,ea eau be advanced 70
per ceut they can be still further
advanced. |. can 20 longer be said
that general advance 10 frelgh. rates
IS altogether a fancy, for it has be,ome
40 accomplished fact. Neither can it
be said thas the public cen escape such
40 Advance. however. ucjust. Han.
areds of persocs have demanded rellet
from wba, has actually boen dooe. 10
come instances where the shipper was
ptroug enough or the organisation 10
whioh be belonged was powerful
enough. relic: bas been Voluntarily
granted by the railways, bu. the
general public and the small shipper
have been compelled to make the best
Of it
While uniform classification is 40
absolute necessity. il is nevertheless
thought to be outrageous that classl
6oation committee or railway maoa
ger should be able BY the stroke OF 8
pep, without consultation with the
| public, without even Informing the
public, arbitrarily to change the rates at
which freight sbsll be handled Car
| riers. it is admitted. should have the
right 10 agree upoo uDiforn "lasslh-
cation, but when bandreds Of shippers
complain that public servant hss per-
petrated q wrong upon the pubic 10
the discharge of public duty. there
should, it is said, be aome public sr'hu
nal before which icquiry can be hed