The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-08
Roberts Sees Shortcoming in the
Application of Distance
Standard.
GREAT WESTERN RATES
CITED AGAINST HIM
Cannon Falls and Minneapolis
Tariffs to Chicago as Exam
pies in Problem.
By w. w. Jermane.

4rts of Des Moines, Iowa, the director
of the mint, while warmly supporting
President Roosevelt s railroad rate
regulation program, calls attention to
a possible objection to the plan of 4. B.
Stickney, president of the Great West
ern, which may not have occurred to
him, and that is the danger Of getting
down to distance standard as the only
basis by which variations between the
Icing and short hauls could be adjusted
by any commission, or body, owing Its
existence to our political system.
For example, testimony was recently
presented before the senate committee
to show that on Mr.. Stickney's own line
the rate on grain from Cannon Falls to
when it is only 7 cents from Mlnneapo-
lis, the longer haul, to Chicago. The
Minneapolis train passed thru Cannon
Falls on it's way Mr.. Stickney justified
justified that condition on the theory
that the 7-cent rate from Minneapolis
was a part of a thru charge on grain
originating at points farther west, and
that the road which originally gathers
up the grain in carloads and hauls it to
titled to the big end Of the charge, and
that Z cents hundred is all Of the
thru rate they can afford to allow to the
Great Western for this last stretch or
the journey.
It is alleged that no grain originates
in Minneapolis for shipment to Chicago,
but if there were any it would doubt
less beincluded at the 7-cent rate. r
Typical Situation.
Such a situation is typical Of others.
Des Moines, Iowa, which is In the cen
ter Of the state, constantly complains
that 1t does not get as favorable rates
to Chicago as Omaha, and other Ms
Stickney justifes it on the ground that
as a part of a thru haul, a lower rate
must be assessed to keep business NOV.
ing, than the railroad should earn OF
the traffic originating In its own terri
tory.
In other words, the principle of class.
ifcation of freights, by which some
kinds Of traffic must be carried at
what is practically, operating expenses "A,
the interest on the fixed capital, has an
application to distance. There are
MANY classic examples Of this necessity
as between kinds Of freight. Long haul
business in a sense corresponds TO Inc
low grade traffic, which can be carried
only to swell the volume OF freight, and
pay operating expenses, Whlle snor.
haul business and that originating on,
railroads own line is like the high
priced goods, which heally give the
railroad It's profit. :, -. II.
The principle of classification is rec
ea ar119 The distance variation Nigh
with more difficulty be maintained un
der government supervision.
Cop of Discrimination.
Under government regulation Of rate
the CONGRESSMAN from Cannon Fails. ]
sure to make big howl over the exist
ence Of rate higher than f, from Mime
from the Dakotas will take the 'othee
side. Then the Juggling and hauling WI
begin. ,,ono1, CO.
tie this9 How does it settle promotlo
in the army and 1eaoI in tt the aa Symp 1af fa}
of record-the length Of service: n
one pretends that age alone is the sol
qualification of rear admiral, or
colonel, but under our political system
Il is presumably the best device thu
can be resorted to. In our postotflc
within the four classifications, weigh
not distance, is the measure OF paymeni
avoid inordinate pressure, with newt
BILE charges Of avoritism, flies to som
thing simple and easy Of application.
Mileage Basis Simple.
In railroading, after the classific
tions were made, the simple. and cas-
thing would be mileage basis, CONVEX
tionalizing the distance between clt1e
No one would propose to make raj
road which was 436 miles between tN
cities charge more than one which wi
423 miles. The government agen'
would adopt standard distance b
tween New York, and Boston, approx
maintg that of the shortest line, al
make that the mileage charge. To lo1
lines it would be their own loss tn
they were roundabout.
A per-ton- per-mile basis, or anythi1
approaching that, would work gre
hardship on the long distance traffic J
comparison with the short hauls. Tt
might be applied upon zone syste
with rates graduated according to t
width of the zones; but even there
would hardly be possible to give t
Dakota wheat raiser the same rate
getintg his grain into Chicago as t
farmer in Central Illinois. ,
DOnCEUEIT HETC