Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-11
ACTION ON RATE INCREASE
Interstate Commerce Commission
Expected 60 Decide Soon.
TO SAY WHETHER REASONABLE
Reads AIIeEe They Have Been Kept
from Reducing Wages and
Eight Per Cent Raise IL
Necessary.

month OF six weeks It is proposed that
the Interstate Commerce commission will
decide upon the reasonabIeness OF the pro-
posed freight rates Increase in Alabama,
Georgia. Tennessee. Florida and portions
I of South and North Carolina In the South
ern territory and in Texas in the South
western territory The complaint OF the
Georgia shippers already has been filed
with the commission and the railroads have
been given twenty days in which to reply
to the charges
The commissions decision will affect the
proposed charges throughout the southeast
ern territory. Tbs complaint Of the Texas
railroad commission probably will be filed
tomorrow and Chairman knapp has been
given assurances that an inquiry and de-
cisson in the case will be expedited as
rapidly as a compliance with the Jaw will
permit.
Railroads handling the traffic IN Arkansas
gave nouce soms time ago Of a proposed
Increase of rates. but failing to comply
with the law by giving a satisfactory state
ment Of connecting lines participating in
the rates and the notice was returned to
them and has not since been heard from
Case of EitaI Import.
The proposed increase OF rates Of south
ern states embrace practically all increases
proposed throughout the country. The de-
cision Of these cases viii have an import
ant bearing upon rates generally as the
questions to be determined in respect to
southern states are largely the same as
may be urged as the basis Of increase else
where.
1t is said by experts who have unofficiaIy
calculated the percentage Of the increase
in comparison with the old rate, that the
- .-..- -, H. - -
Louis to common points in Texas is be-
tween Z and s per cent. AS there has been
no increase In rates from St Louis and
Chicago, Boston. New York and other
points in the middle wes1 and east the
percentage of Increase between Texas COM
mon points and these sections Is less than
Z per cent II II stated that the increase
from the st Louis and the other Ohio
river crossings to Atlanta, Ga, average
less than the increase from st. Louis to
Texas points.
Wages Have Been Kept On.
The railroads will, it is expected. urge
among other reasons for increasing their
rates, that they have been prevented from
reducing wages. and they viii point to the
decision to that effect by Chairman knapp
Of the Interstate Commerce commission.
and COMMISSIONS Neil of the bureau Of
labor. sitting as a board Of arbitration in
reference to the wages OF employees Of the
Southern Railroad. They viii point 20 a
reduction Of their Interstate passenger rev.
enue by the reduction OF rates from 2 to
2 cents a mile in Virginia and from 3 to
III cents a mile in other southern states.
1t Is expected that specific instances Of in
crease in both wages and cost of material
since the old rates vent into effect will be
alleged and that on some branch lines do
ing an interstate business there nave been
reductions ON freight rates hy -Stats enact
ments- l..nU~ $500 Z
BOTH IN the cAEAalt of n. eompla,nt ., the
Georgia shippers and the State Railroad
commission OF Texas there will be a siren
uous effort to prevent an increase of rates
Of which notice has been given. All repre-
sontations, whether OF the railroads or Of
the compliments. VIII be scrut!nized very
carefully so that the facts will be fully es-
tahlished.
Appeal to Roosevelt.
President Roosevelt has been appealed to
by Senator CuIberson OF Texas in an effort
to restrain the railroads from putting the
new rates into effect in that state ana
Mr.. Roosevelt has referred the matter 70
the attorney general In the meantime the
Texas and the Oklahoma state railroad
commissions viii file separate complaints
with the Interstate Commerce commission
tomorrow.
Following several conferences between
Senator Culberson and Chairman Allison
Aayfield OF the Texas Railroad commission.
Mr.. Pollard, assistant attorney general Of
Texas. advised with Chairman Knapp and
Commissioned Clements OF the Interstate
Commerce commission. Senator CuIberSon
forwarded a telegram to President Roose-
welt at Oyster Bay on Friday stating TIA,
the hearing in the Texas case before the
commission would probably not begin
earlier than September l. and in the mean
time the Increased rates would doubtless
be put into operation and great injustice
result TO the shippers. He therefore calls
the matter to the attention OF the presi-
dent with the view that the attorney gen.
erai shall be directed to take Immediate
steps to enforce the antitrust laws of con-
gress by such civil and criminal remedies
as may be proper.
Referred to Attorney General.
The following in reply has been received
by Senator Culberson from Acting Score
tary Foster at Oyster Bay:
B direction Of the president, your teIe.
gram was sent 70 the attorney general. vbc
- NIE NAA1A1 AAaAAEIs
In discussing the matter tonight Judg,
Knapp said; IF in the course Of tbs
coming hearing the commission should
have reason 70 believe that the Sherman
antitrust law has been violated il NAV
with prOprety refer the matter to N,
attorney general II the attorney genera
should request the commission 10 make an
Investigation the commission will do al
: in its power to aid the Department OF Jus
tice. This Will not. however, interfere with
the hearing with the complaints OF III,
shippers"
Employees Are Aroused
LOUISVILLE. Aug l0.-Action looking "a
ward the immediate raising OF freight rate
, may be taken BY AL the unSonized bodie
Of employees OF Louisville ar meetings TO b
held thi sweek. Higher rates or the pros
poets Of lower wages are said 70 be 4
alternatives suggested by the employees q
the roads. While shippers organization
AL over the United States are fighting IN
railroads 10 prevent a further increase I
freight rates, the railroads have oombate
the move BY appealing Z their employs
who number countless thousands through
out the United States.