The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-06
Railroads Will Make Shippers
Pay Wage Increases.
Plans Are Now Being Perfected
at Chicago.
RAISE FREIGHT RATES,
Will Amount to More Than loo
Millions Annually.
Increase Will Be 10 Per Cent on
Important Commodities.

| Chicago, Feb. 6.-The Record-Her-
| aid today says:
By action taken yesterday the rail-
| roads of the country have paved the
way to drag back to their Golfers the
millions they recently handed out to
their employees in the way of increased
wages. The shipper is to pay. If a
vote now being taken on the PROPOSE
ton to increase the rates on nearly all
of the main commodities 10 per cent
by increasing the minimum which it
is permitted to load into a car gees
into effect millions of dollars yearly
will be added to the revenues of the
traffic lines
The first active steps were taken
yesterday at a meeting held in Chi
cago which was attended by the ex-
ecutiVe officials of railroads east hav-
ing total of more than 100000 miles
of lines. The roads initially interested
extend throughout the territory east
of this city and north of the Ohio
river clear to the seaboard and north
into Canada.
In this territory freight rates are
controlled by the organizations known
as the Central Freight association,
whose Jurisdiction extends to Buffalo
and Pittsburg, and the Trunk Line
association, whose Jurisdiction extends
from those cities to the Atlantic ocean.
The vote, which is being taken fol-
lowing a recommendation by the two
associations, is being sought by let
ter of advice setting forth the plan and
giving the reasons therefor. 1t was
stated last night that if the plan met
with any opposition it would not be
carried out
The meeting which was held yester-
day. however. is the outcome of a well
laid plan which originated with the
eastern presidents and which was
passed on by them to their executive
traffic officials for perfecting and
placing before the various lines for
adoption.
If the plan is successful in the east
it undoubtedly will be followed by the
lines south of the Ohio river. and then
by the lines to the Pacific ocean.
1t is difficult to estimate how much
the purposed increases will bring the
railroads in added revenues, but the
sum will be a large one. Traffic Off
Gals, however, state that it will not be
sufficient to offset even the increased
expense to the railroads occasioned by
increased wages, and estimated at be-
tween $100,000,000 and $110,000,000
annually.
In explaining the plan, prominent
officials last night declared that the
railroads did not purpose doing any
thing that was unfair to the shipper
the increases in the minimum weights
allowed in cars will be such as will
result in benefit to the entire country.
and will give the railroads, in effect.
the use of from 20 to 80 per cent
added equipment This increase in
equipment efficiency will be brought
about by an increase in the size of the
loads in freight cars.
TRAFFIC men declare that, despite the
fact that the size of freight cars has
increased two and even threefold,
there has been little or no increase in
the minimum weight allowed in car,
with the result that the shippers have
not taken advantage of the added
facilities offered them.