The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-02

with him the general financial situation
especially as it bears upon the railroad
situation. None of the visiting dele
cation has ever asserted that PreSl-
dent Roosevelt said in so many words
that the railroads would be justified in
increasing freight rates. 1t is equally
certain that they came away with the
firm conviction that the president
recognized the necessity of increased
freight rates and that he would not be
unfriendly to such a move. 1t is equal
ly certain that he told the railroad
men that under no circumstances
would the administration tolerate
decrease in the wages of railroad
laborers and employees.
Just what was said at this confer
ence no railway man can be induced
to say At any rate, they came away
from that meeting and the word was
spread among the railway managers
generally that no decrease in wages
would be permitted, but that small,
reasonable increase in freight rates
would not be met by turning the dogs
of war loose upon them.
This understa nding on the part of
the railway men is given as the rea-
son for the secrecy attending the New
York conferences, at which plans were
laid for an increase in freight rates.
Even after the storm of protest which
was raised by the manufacturers, the
railway men kept IlSuI on Will liltl
plans. feeling secure in their position.
When the showdown" came they
were even willing, at first, to have the
matter submitted tothe interstate COM
merce commission. believing that this
arm of the government was not mimi
cal to the purposed advance in rates.
Many railroad men felt this way about
ii until the recent decision of the COM
mission ordering the railroads to re-
store the old rates on lumber from the
northwest. The advances in lumber
rates were. in the opinion of the rail-
road officials. most of all advances ac-
complisheda or proposed the easiest of
defense. If the commission would not
stand for an increase in the lumber
rates. they argued then it would not
support an advance in any of the
rates.
A little investigation on the part of
certain influential railway magnates
developed the fact, or they thought it
did, that the president does not view
an advance in freight rates with favor
and would, if necessary. do what he
could to discourage it. Therefore, the
railroad men feel that they are between
the upper and the neither milestone and
do not know which way to turn. Vice
President Brown says that it is a des-
perate case, and that either one or the
other horn of the dilemma must be ia
ken by the railroads.
In explaining the position of the rail-
roads with respect to the necessity for
an advance, Mr.. Brown said the ques-
ton had been misunderstood. The rail-
roads do not believe that the mere ac-
ton of increased freight rates will in
crease the demand for transportation
and thereby bring a return of prosper
ity. 1t is recognized by the railroads
that increased demand is fostered
usually by decrease in prices and not
by advances. 1t is the theory of the
railroads, however, that transportation
has been reduced to a minimum, every
one living on a bare necessity. This
minimum will continue even If times
get worse. With this understanding
the railroads insist, it would be far bet
ter If the shippers or the public could
stand little additional tax, solely with
the purpose of bringing added reve-
nue. to the railroads. With this added
revenue the railroads could start anew
the millions of dollars worth of i'm