The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-05-21
MAKE A PROTEST
Shippers File Protest Against
Proposed Raise in Freight
Rates on All Roads
WANT COMMISSION TO DECIDE

The opening gun Of the campaign of
90 manufacturers and shippers throughout
the country against any attempt by the
railroads to put into effect compre-
hensive advance in freight rates was
fred at Chicago yesterday.
665 90 At meetings of the National Indus
trial Traffic league, an organization
made up Of industrial managers, en-
bracing the larger industrial centers of
900 90 the country and representing capital
overtopping the billion dollar mark
The conference of the national traf
fc organization was held in the Great
Northern hotel, Chicago. The "peace
| 90 and harmony" doctrine which railroad
officials have preached to shippers
through addresses at meetings of the
traffic clubs of New York, Pittsburg,
Chicago and St. Louis, was subject to
whitening sarcasm. A roll call of the
1 90 industries represented drew forth un-
animous expression of opinion that no
advance in rates will be tolerated at
the present time
A protest which was adopted in the
afternoon and which will be sent to the
| 90 presidents Of the railroads, President
Roosevelt members of the interstate
commerce commission and congress, and
to traffic organizations all over the
country, follows:
''To the Presidents of the railroads
90 Iof the United States: It is currently
reported in the press, and confirmed
through other sources, that the com
mon carriers of this country propose
300 90 Ito make advance in rates on both
class and commodities of approximate
ly 10 per cent
FWhite we believe that the right 10
initiate rates shorid rest primarily 18th
the carriers, owing to their character,
l 90 deriving their rights from the public
as common carriers, they exercise GER
tain functions which should be consid-
cred in the relations existing between
them and the public
200 90 ''We are unwilling to deny that the
right to advance is correlated to the
right to reduce rate. We do believe
when it contemplates an advance in all
500 90 classes as well as commodity rates
throughout the country, the right Of
the shipper and general public is to
be considered, and they should have
an opportunity to be heard upon such
questions before general advance is
l 90 lmade effective
'EHigh railroad executive officials in
public declarations have advocated CO.
operation between the shippers and
the carriers, and recommended closer
w relations so each could better under
stand the necessities of the other If
sincere in this now is the time to give
it effect.
GAS shippers generally feel that an
advance at this time would retard the
LUZ w resumption of business and a renewed
era of prosperity by placing upon them
burdens which they do not feel they
can stand, and as the carriers feel
they must have increased earnings to
-. iproperly provide for their property
Aoo w and investments, with the desire to be
just and fair to each the shipper and
the carrier, it is requested that the
carriers make advanced announcement
ooo - of the changes they desire to effect
wv W and that the shippers be given an op
portunity to be heard with respect
thereto; and to determine the equities
Iof the rates, it is recommended that
the matter be taken up formally with
the Interstate commerce commission
prior to and not subsequent to the pro-
posed changes becoming effective, as
medium before which both shippers
and carriers may be heard and by
900 90 its conc1nsons accented ~ haep anu
ties