Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-20
ADVANCE IN RATES.


The arguments Of j. Y. Harahan
president OF the Illinois Central rail-
road, and Of James j. I'M. chairman
Of the Great Northern system, to tho
effect that freight rates must be in
creased may appear truly unanswer-
able, Yet. they are not conclusive or
convincing.
Mr. Harahan, according to Satur-
days dispatches, says that there are
just three ways in which the problem
now facing the railways of this coun-
try may be solved namely Increased
rates, decreased wages, or increased
business
That, II should be observed. COM
prises only two alternatives Increas-
cd freight rates means decreased
wages. II means that to the cost OF
living is added the increase in the
cost of transportation of the necessar-
les of life, and every addition to the
cost OF living means decrease OF
wages.
MIR. Hill is likewise of the opinion
| that the solution of the financial prob
| lem that confronts the railroads is an
| increase In freight rates. He says he
| IL strongly opposed to a cut in wages
as a means of increasing the net earn
lngs of railroads. His reasoning is
as follows
There is no alternative but to raise
rates. The credit of the roads has
been seriously impaired. The way 10
enhance credit Is to increase rates.
Wages should not be cut Efficient
labor Is essential to successful opera
ton Railroad employees have peculiar
responsibilities. They have to meet
hard test They should get fair rec
ompense. Cut wages 10 per cent ana
the man who got SIS last week gets
$3.50 this week 1t Is the difference
between meat and no meat"
How rates can be increased with
out corresponding cut in wages Mr.
Hill also fails to explain.
The proposition is to increase the
freight rates ten per cent. The Inter-
state Commerce Commission has been
sounded on the proposition, and has
answered that it has no right or power
10 forbid such an advance in the rates
of freight.
Inc New 1Oih I hsl 10 Va ~ 'f''''N''
that the railroad managers think
the time suspicious to do some skill
ful and profitable fishing in troubled
political waters" 1t thinks that TINS
proposal. put forward as a plan to
prevent the reduction of wages oouiu
not but appeal to- President Roosevelt |
with difficult campaign on MS haiius.
Moreover the Democrats woula ma
It hard TO contest a schehe os'e"tioi|
to avoid cutting down wages
While admitting the skill Win which
The railroad OFFICIALS nave stated 'he'r
case. and also eonceding that they
have chosen the psychoiosical mo
ment' for putting 1t oeiore the cou''-
try. we are still OF the opinion ti'a'
for the railroads az TOT an otnerS'
economy and not higher charges upon
the public, Is the proper remedy LOT
extravaganza and talllng on OF DuSl-
ness IT the services oi '"e i''o''uo
are not so much IN demand no" as
formerly that does not prove oul ms
proves the plea that ihofc ous"' 70 30
paid FOR THESE services 'h"" WIG"
they "e'o ~ sfv'' 49,, -, :.
""a' '"' ''', 49, 100 ooo -
more ou9,"e9' ~, ,a,a
ciaii'''' &C 80 -,
ne Fost says rfe's"t "'s
onward BUSINESS mas " ~ m1'.lsN
lp' instead OF oeii'e i'eeiS VA''s N'
earnings po'" eio"' anu 'o''
'assihs' lne s'e"t "e'''''''
% 10 se' mort lte's'' W NV {
ms pan OF ~ per 'e''' "'' '','.' ="
rates Is one 10 s'ii'u'''e ''''''S
uetaht ana t'i',u sh'ppe'S Wy ,','N'"s
'helr lre'snt n'''S s'o"te' no 20
'eritapie S'pSl''he BOOKS 'i''''''''~'''e !
ess you nave ~ s''o' ''' ''o'' you
WIZ get