Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-08
HOW WOULD RATE
INCREASE HELP?
---- ----------------
That Is the Question Asked by
Those Against High
Tariffs.
NEWHoUsE WIRES POWERS.
Shippers say the Railroads Are Max
ing Enough Money TO Keep
Workmcn on Fair Wages.

In railroad circles, the telegram Of
Samuel Newhouse to Judge Powers OF
the Utah Democratic delegation IN
Denver urging that the Judge work for
a resolution for higher freight rates,
is the topic of the day. 1t Is also be-
ing discussed in business circles. Local
railroad officials say they would rather
have the head traffic men Of the Coun-
Try discuss the matter but all feel that
an increase has been under contem-
plation for some time back. wages
have been mentioned as the reason for
the necessity OF a tariff raise, for II mas
n1een argued that revenue from freight
must grow to keep labor paid at pres
ent figures.
SHREwD BATTING.
In shipping circles the necessity pt
an increase Is branded as mythi
wages are being held out as the rea-
son, argue the shippers To get public
sentiment in line for the Increase.
Tranic men of the largest firms in this
city say the railroads are making plen-.
ty Of money to keep their workmen
we'll paid but by exploiting necessity
for Increased freight rates on account
of the danger to payrolis, are making IA
shiewd move or what is known as
"grandstand play, in the vernacular
OF the street
SOME FIGURES.
With two stories absolutely contra
dictory, being heard, figures on reve
nues on representative systems are
interesting. The month of April can
be used as an example. This will give
the railroads q little the best of 1t be-
cause the effects of the stringency
hadn't died out by April. The Union
Paeiiic's net income for the one month
was s1,500,772 The total revenue from
operating was S3276,sg0; the total oper-
ating expenses, 81 SOC, 1876 and with $685.
1858 taxes deducted in addition operat-
ing revenues yielded the handsome sum
of $500 000-and this was in times OF
depression.
The Oregon Short Lines net income
for the month was ss15, 323; that of the
oregon Railroad & Navigation, s465 $40.
and that of the Denver & Rio Graude,
si1l,S97- These incomes were received
from the following respective mileages
Union Pacific. 3,O95; Oregon Short
Lime, l,45i o. r. & N, l,264 and Rio
tirande. 250t.
On the same amounts of mileage in
each instance the net earnings of The
various roads for the 10 months of the
fiscal year ending April, 1908, we're:
Union Pacific, s14 ,3l5 SAC; Oregon Short
lime, s6459,S70; o. r. K NJ. s534l, 500;
Rio Grande, s5,5O9, 500
J.. a million dollars a month above all
Expenses, taxes and everything. is
hardly so small as TO send railroad
out begging for contributions 80 It can
pay It's workers argue the shippers and
others arInyed against the increase.
And what good VIII an increase IN
rates do for the workingmen? Is ask
ca. Would not the boost in rates on
all manner of freights be followed by
an increase In the cost of all commod-
ties and LIES necessities? wouldn't
the worgingmen have to pay the diff
ference anyhow? ask the anti-lncrease
men. The debate IL national one:
the action Of n Salt Lake man has
made II more keen than ever.