Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-12
Hen Frank I. Campbell Re-
CARDS Contemplated Action
of Railroads Unnecessary
ARGUES STRONGLY AGAINST 1T
In campbeIps Protest Filed With the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
Statistics Are Quoted to Prove the
Injustice to the People, Committed
If the Increase Takes Place.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines Feb. 12.-Hon. Frank Z.
Campbell, whose protest against the
contemplated increase in railroad
rates filed with the interstate commerce
commission few days ago has created
mild sensation in railroad and ship
ping circles, is resident of Des Moines,
and his standing can hardly be ques-
toned. He was elected lieutenant gov
ernor OF Iowa by the republicans when
the fight was on to establish the right
OF the state to regulate rates in the '70s,
and later, when the old railroad COM
mission, which was appointiye, had
been legislated out of existence, he was
one OF the first commissioners elected
by the republicans of the state. He was
Of the commission that put into force
the first maximum schedules of freight
and passenger rates in Iowa. Since
then he has been engaged as manu-
facturer and shipper, but has kept him.
self in close touch with the railroad
rate question in the state and nation.
II have filed protest with the inter-
state commerce commission" he said
today, mot that anticipate the COM
mission will do anything, but realize
that some one should take the lead and
call the attention of the people of the
country to what l regard as great
Injustice I have asked the commission
to make demand on the railroad man
ayers for the reason for their proposed
great increase in rates. The commits
sionis in duty bound, IL 1t represents
the people, to Go this
What can the commission do to pre-
vent the increase of rates if satisfied II
is uniust?"
"Nothing at all. The commission is
powerless and helpless. Congress has
s.sajfastly refused to give that com
mission the power to carry out its own
decisions or enforce its own rulings. All
that is required of the railroads is that
they file their schedules with the COM
mission ten days before they go into
effect when an increase In rates is pro-
posed. But the commission may at least
require definite statement as to the
cause assigned for the increase. and
thus publicity may be secured and the
shippers and consumers who pay this
increased tariff laid on the necessities
of life will be well informed"
1.-The situation in nutshell is just
continued Mr.. Campbell, after the
Financial depression of a few years ago
the railroads insisted upon an increase
in rates and in 1900 made an increase
which has brought them millions OF
dollars. That increase was excused by
reason of the higher wages and cost OF
everything. Now, with all the compa-
nies paying immense dividends and the
mergers adding to the dividend paying
possibilities of the lines, they come
with another demand of 25 to 80 per
cent increase in rates. The people
stood the former raise uncomplainingly.
They recognized that there was some
reason for it. But when they realize
what Is being done now they will have
cause for righteous Indignation. Why
don't they do something? That is be-
cause they do not know what is being
done. 1t will come on them one at a
time and the Companies will deal with
shippers individually. Their mouths
are stopped. They dare not speak. And
they have no organization thru which
they can or will act. The result is that
the new rates are fastened upon the
country before the people are aware OF
it, and nothing will be done.
The railroads of the country raised
their rates less than three years ago by
advancing the classifications 21.2 per
cent over the charges in effect prior to
Jan l. 1900. The interstate commerce
commission reported that the gross
earnings of the railways for the year
ending June so, 1901, showed an in
crease of $92,000,000 over 1900. The
average gross earnings per mile were
greater than for any previous year for
which reports had been received. The
dividends declared were almost S1S,000.-
900 greater than the year before. This.
with the dividends from leased lines.
would make $S2.000000 more than III
1900. and besides there is left surplus
of s77,544,7S5 as the first fruits OF the
raise in classification in 1900, aided by
the general prosperity of the country.
And in the face of these astonishing
financial results comes demand for
another raise of from % to 80 per cent.
and this with no other than the old
apology of increase in cost of material,
labor and wages, adding new burden
of cost of fuel two-thirdS the cost OF
which is for railway transportation.
II believe firmly that not only should
there be no increase in rates, but that
they should be put back to where they
were in 1900 before the last previous in
crease The railroads of the country
have partalien more largely OF the gen
eral prosperity than others, their net
profits and surplus are immense and
unprecedented and there are FEWER
lines in the hands of receivers than a
few years ago: freight can be ana is
being handled cheaper than ever before,
on account of Improvements IN nelh-
ods of transportation, the average cost
of CARRYING a ton a mile being reduced
from LII cents in 1883 and 10y In 1850
to less than O5 cents in 1900; they nave
already by a 22 per cent increase In
classification more than recouped them
selves for the claimed increase in ex-
penses on account of the increase IN
cost of material wages, ETC.; the IN
creased tonnage of the country promls-