The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-29
HIGHER RATES.
A General Advance i'm Freight
Charges Talked Of.
A Trunk Line Official Says 1t Is
Absurd.
1T CAN'T BE DONE.
Because the Traffic Would Not
Stand 1t.
Only Way Is to Make Changes
in Classification.

New York. Sept. 29.-Reports have
been extensively circulated of late that
a concerted movement, taking in all the
large railroad systems of the country,
is under way to bring about ad-
vance in freight rates on January l.
The eastern trunk lines, according to
the reports in question, are planning an
increase equal to about 10 per cent.
When the matter was called. by the
journal of Commerce, to the attention
of one of the best informed trunk line
officers at this port, he declared the re-
port absolutely absurd.
of course. there will be the usual
end-year cleaning up of commodity
rates on raw materials. etc. for short
distances. to manufacturers and 9TH
ers,' he said. but it is ridiculous to
talk about any general 10 per cent. ad-
vance.
''The basis. first class. between New
York and Chicago, has been rs ever
since 1882. There can certainly be no
advance on that figure for trade would
not stand it. The only way, thererors
that an advance could De made would
be an advance in the classification. A
general advance in classification always
meets with great opposition and will
never be attempted unless the railroads
must have it. Three years or so ago
when conditions warranted it-When
materials and labor had advanced to
such figures to make railroading at
the old figures losing business. ad-
NdlCCS were IldQ6 DN means OF ClaSSl-
fication, which ranged between and Z
per cent. These advances were in every
way justified. Today there has certain
ly been no further advance in materials,
which if anything, are shade lower.
Labor is not much higher, so that there
is no excuse whatever for any general
advance to say nothing of the alleged
advance of 10 per cent. There Is a dis
position to curtail expenditures, but not
to advance rates"
However it has been learned that the
trunk line managers are considering the
adjustment of port rates and a joint
conference of New York Missouri river
lines has been called to meet in New
York October s. The trunk line import
committee and the representatives of
the Gulf lines, western freight associa-
tion lines and tTansmissouri lines will
be present. Although rates from foreign
ports to Missouri river points and points
in western territory will be discussed.
The purpose is to fix these rates on a
stable basis which will prevent the
through rate on imported goods being
less than the same rate ON the home
manufactured products. For years home
manufactures have suffered greatly on
account of relatively lower import rates
Any imported articles, for example,
could be shipped from London to Mis-
souri, river points cheaper than the same
articles could be shipped from the sea-
board to the same points. This has
been recognized by all roads and by
steamship lines to be a great injustice.
An agreement has been prepared be-
tween the steamship lines and the rail-
roads whereby all import rates are to
be based on Baltimore, which will be
the 100 per cent point. BY this means.
it is expected that the meeting will re-
suit in perfecting the plan by placing
the inland proportions of the through
import rate on a fixed basis to all
points.