Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-27
Drop improvements in Effort
to Offset Legislation Epi-
demic
MILWAUKEE LEADS THE BOLT
Stops improvements That contem-
plated Expenditure of ss,ooo,ooo-
Other Roads to Follow Suit-Bitter-
ness is Expressed-Prosressive Tar
if the New Plan.

Chicago, Feb. 27.-As a foil to the
railroad legislation epidemic which is
affecting state legislatures turnout the
western and middle states the rail-
roads have begun a campaign OF re-
trenchment and will cut their plans
for improvement to the smallest pos
sible figure. The cut which the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & st Paul railroad
will make is estimated at from $S,00O,-
600 to s10,0O0.O0O, while other roads
will cut off from $10,0OO,000 to $751;
100000
So uncertain have the conditions
regulating the operation of railroads
become, say officials, and SO active
have the legislators been in alternating
rates of passenger and freight traffic
there is difficulty in getting the invest
ing public to, put money into the roads
compared to the same period of a year
or so ago. Aside from this, SO hostile
is popular feeling, according to prom
inent official the boards of directors Of
the roads will not vote money for inn
provements when there is every pros
pect of having earnings cut by adverse
Legislation.
The action taken by the ST. Paul
road will be followed to a greater or
less extent by the Northwestern, the
Burlington. the Santa Fe and other
roads among the great trunk lines for
the same reasons.
While this action is being taken on
the defensive side the shippers see an
aggressive campaign which has for its
object the increase of revenue by the
raising Of freight tariffs by changing
classification and increasing the earn
ings of each freight car by the raising
OF the minimum load for which a car
will be furnished.
While officials differ as to the merits
of the actions taken the consensus OF
opinion is in support of the decreasing
of expenses for improvements. The
cuts in passenger fares which have
been made in Wisconsin, Nebraska and
the other so-called granger states
and the passage by the lower house OF
the Minnesota legislature of a bill OF
tl.<..-.e4,.e'
seriously affected the revenue which
roads will hereafter derive from the
passenger business in those states,
while the requirements of equipment
and increased safety appliances will
make further demands on the earnings
of the passenger traffic.
The bitterness which is aroused by
the action of the different states is we'll
shown by the opinion expressed yester-
day by vice president of one of the
roads entering Chicago: "a narrow :
gauge man usually has a broad
gauge trumpet and most of this leg1s-
lative agitation is caused by men who
are merely making political capital out
of the present public hostility toward
railroads. The policy of the Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul road is typi-
cal of the action which in being taken
by the other western roads. 1t is fair
say CndU all VI ILSHi StLS lohAlAAS sim
liar action, and as to the matter OF So
0O0, 900, that is a small sum when you
spread it over vast system, ana
while have not had accurate 1nfor-
nation as to the exact figures i am
sure that every other western road is
cutting down to the very limit"
A system of rate making that will
reyolutionize the plan which has been
used as a working basis ever since the
DAYS of the first railroads in the west
that of regarding the sections of coun-
try divided by such rivers as the
Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi and other
rivers as units of traffic area and the
keys to. the adjustment of rates with
regard to the basic points, such as
Chicago, st. Louis, Omaha, Kansas
City, Buffalo, Syracuse, Cleveland and
Toledo and similar points, will be dis
continued.
The old plan will give way to a sys-
tenn of progressive tariffs which shall
be made solely with regard to the
rates from one city or town to another,
and this system pursued throut the
adjusting the rates of certain terri
tories to certain points"
The Gin and out" adjustment which
made certain facts true in the move
ment of products from the west via
Chicago will be abandoned if the new
plan now fathered by the Western
Trunk line and the Central freight as
sociations in regard to merchandise
and so-called first-class freight is
adopted.
This new plan is favored by Kansas
City and Omaha and is looked upon
with hostility by the Chicago mer-
chants who met yesterday in the trans
portation committee of the Chicago
Commercial association and the mat
ter will be taken up at future confer
ences.