New-York tribune., 1908-05-16
NAY ENJOIN RATES
cs;unrrs Will 4ct Unless Railroads
4gree to 4rbitrdte.

,ioaro May 15.-Representatives of than
- hundred commercial and shippers organiza-
W. from all parts Of the country to-day adopted
" ,r,ions protesting against the proposed ad-
80 in railroad freight rates, but agreeing TO
w.. the question of the justice of such ad-
fe 10 the Interstate Commerce Commission
.ut appeal the courts. In case the rail-
L. ref1Ise TO consent arbitration the federal
'VA1 are 10 be asked issue injunctions against
r -sirosds in every district where attempt
l. Ne made to increase the rates.
To- To-. conference authorized Chairman f. ". Up
= m appoint committee of fifteen to carry out
e. r. terms of the resolutions.
'r.,5erick ". Upham, president of the Illinois
,rufacturers Association. gave in detail his rea-
rs rtv freight rates should not be increased at
.,,s time He said. in part:
-.s ,erritory upon which the increased tax is to
irriaced according TO report is the most fertile
sss R590aes ralroas II 5 almost a1 81
y freight i Is claimed that the advance is only
Trres ii investigation is correct. the ad-
snre in some instances exceeds Ii per cent
AZ T-nbam called attention to the fact that while
-,hs railroads are contemplating increasing their
!. ..-.isbt rates they at the time reducing
.beir gross expenses He clteG numerous instances
10 support his statements
hreak in the regular programme was the un-
.vnected appearance at the conference Of w. c.
noun yice-president Of the New York Central
g,sx' who asked permission make statement
<0-1h
ta admitted that tho roads intended 10 make a
,,oderate increase in freight rates, and said that
. ,be action was absolutely necessary He said the
,r-rease would make it possible for the railroads
t,o resume the purchase Of new equipment and con-
,in1,e great improvements. which will give employ
mi 10 many thousands of and materially
assist in the return OF prosperity. In concluding
Mr.. Brown SAID;
T. che business interests of the nation shall, after
,oa.re consideration, say that railroad rates shall
nnt he advanced. doubt If il be done; but il
.honld he understood that in saying this they say
slea-r and definitely that the wages of the great
s--,y Of $4,000 railroad employees shall be re-
snceS and they accept their full measure or
resnonsihlity for the results which VIII follow
1uss what the proposed advance in rates VIII
mean in increased cost of living is set forth IN
table of statistics compiled by the Illinois Manu-
sscturers' Association. which says in part:
The railroads propose TO every man, woman
snd child the country 81 s5 head The in
crease contemplated viii raise the present gross
freight of the roads in the official classlfi-
cation territory from approximately slOeO,0oo.Ooo
10 slIz0.Ge000o. There so, 600. 600 persons in
ire country. so each will be called on 10
contribute s. rs year 10 the railroad COM
panes This Is average of 50 33 from each
family or almost twice as much the average
family pays and about 81 more than
the average contribution to religious purposes
The railroads shared beautifully in the prosper
ity Of the last ten years Let them now pay their
snare of the nations reduced income.