The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-05-27

While the announcement of these
startling increases comes with full
authority. it is generally considered
that the proposition is a tentative
one. Ii is likely that railroad mana
gers foresaw and counted on the
storm of protest and the efforts for
modification of their decision that
Immediately resulted Commercial
organization in the territory affected
quickly got together, and on May %
their representatives met in Chicago
TO consider ways of combating the
proposed move Statistics were in
troduced to show what the advances
would mean to the general public.
"rhe railroads propose to tax ev-
cry man, woman and child in the
country $1.75 a head says a state
ment of the Illinois Manufacturers
association, which called the confer
ence
"That is just why the Illinois Man
uftcturers' association has called the
conference on railroad rates. The
increase contemplated will raise the
present gross freight revenue of the
roads in tho official classification ter
fitory from approximately $1,000
900. 600 to S1,i00, 100000.
"There are $4,000 900 persons in
the country; so each one will be call
ed upon to contribute $173 per an
Nun to Golfers of the railroads. This
is an average of $9.33 for each fami-
~. or almost twice as much as the
average family pays in taxes and
about 50 more than the average con-
tlbution to religious purposes. it
would pay the average mans life
insurance for six months, buy food
for his family for over ten days
IF the railroads are losing money
so are the shippers, and SO arc the
working men who are out of work or
on short time What we propose is
that this conference will result in
rousing the public so that the rail
roads will be forced to abandon their
selfish policy of attempting to shift
all tho burden of hard times onto the
shoulders of the public The rail-
roads shared bountifully in the pros
perity of the last ten years Let
them now pay their share of the ma
TONS reduced income"
4 unique statement. which no
doubt accurately represents the rail-
roads attitude in the matter, WIS
made at tho conference by w. c.
Brown. vice president of the New
York Central lines IF the business
interests of the nation" says Mr.
Brown. "shall, after mature consid-
Grafton say the railroad rates sholi
not be advanced. I doubt if it can
be done. but it should be understood
clearly. definitely and beyond all
question Of doubt that in saying this
they say Just as clearly and definite
, " that the wages of the great army
of 800 900 railroad employees shall
be reduced and they must accept the
full measure of responsibility for thc
results"
In other words, the railroads de-
mand greater revenues. and, in or
der that the raise may be accompli Sh-
ed with the least friction possible
have left the matter of how II Is to
be accomplished to the shippers ard
the general public.
The result of the conference was
the agreement on the part of the
shippers to abide by the decision of
the interstate commerce commission
on the matter.
That this proposed advance, If put
into effect. will be extended to cover
the remainder of the country. is not
doubted The Southwestern roads.
covering the territory south of tic
Ohio to the Gulf, have already pro-
claimed their intention of following
the lead of the Official classiica-
ton" roads and no doubt the west
would soon be directly effected. Con-
sidering the attitude of the public
rs we'll as that of the railroad lead
ers, however, it is doubtful whether
the advances, at least to the extent
outlined. will be put into effect. =
West Coast Trade.