The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-27
BUREAU AGAINST
RAISE IN RATES
commercial Club Traffic Bureau
Issues Statement on the
Matter Friday.
CONTAINS LETTER TO
SHORT LINE EMPLOYEES
Also Statement of Earnings of
Several Railroads; Argu-
ment Presented.

A statement was issued Friday by
the Commercial club traffic bureau con-
tanning a petition which is reported as
having been sent out by A. F, Brewer,
superintendent of the Utah division Of
the Oregon Short Line, and intended to
be signed by the shopmen, engineers
and fremen in favor of an increase IN
freight rates. The argument set forth
IN the petition is to the effect that 1t re-
qulres more to operate and MAINTAIN
railroads today than it did years ago,
and the public wishes better service
now than 1T did a time back and should,
therefore, be willing to pay for it.
Accompanying the petition is state
ment of the gross and net earnings of
The Union Pacific. the Southern Pacific
and the Denver & Rio Grande rail
roads for the years 1909 and 1910 and
the increase as sworn to To the inter
state commerce commission. Using this
TO base an argument on, the traffic bu-
reau contends that the rates should be
reduced instead of increased. The
statement in full follows:
Brewers Letter.
oregon Short Line Railroad Company,
Salt Lake City, August s. 1910.
Petition for Increase in freight rates.
Messrs, j. II, Race, o. Aim and n, C..
Price:
btHlIcIiWn-l dtlaCn hereto SIcelS OF
blank petitions to enable you to secure
the signature OF shop men. also eng-
neers and firemen, who are willing to
subscribe their names in support OF Sc
curing an increase In freight rates.
which. under present conditions. we con-
slider justifiablc,
II is requested that all employees cH-
ccpt common Iaborcrs sign this petition.
1t being fully understood, however. that
there Is no compulsion in the matter;
II Is 10 be purely voluntary. II any OF
of the men have objections 10 signing
II Will be desirable TO secure their rea-
sons therefor. merely as a matter of In
CURED between now and August "a, wish
cndeavor 10 obtain twenty-five sigma
turcs on each petition so that no addi-
tional sheets will be required: and also
wish you would keep the sheets as clean
as possible. Extra sheets will be fur
nished on application.
Yours truly,
(slgncd a. i. BREWER,
Superintendent.
The Petition
As citizens OF this country we be-
licve in fair profits and good wages As
railroad employees we know that our
prosperity is inseperably associated with
The prosperity of the rnilroao.
We support the railways In their ef-
forts TO secure higher rate for the
transportation they furnish. II costs
more now In labor. material, taxes, etc,
10 operate lDe railways tnHp II ever did
before. The public demands faster time.
greater safety. more accommodations:
better equipment and better service. All
This calls for better brains in manage
mcnt and greater efficiency on the part
nf the employees. The public ought to
be willing to pay for them.
Increased rates for transportation will
assure the regularity of our employment
and the stability of our earnings, and in
all fairness this Is due us as well as the
roads. We urge all who have 10 do with
The rate Gucstion-whether the interstate
commerce commission. state railway or
public service commissions, national and
state cgisators-to deal fairly with
this vital question. We believe in rca-
state and national. for that purpose. We
believe that just and reasonable regula-
tion requires frank recognition Of existing
conditions, and that the railroads must
have reasonable Increases in their rates
IN order to respond efficiently 10 the de-
mauds made upon them by the public.
The fund from which our wages are paid
cannot be constantly depleted without
hurting us. We know. too. that trans
porlation rates have had nothing TO do
with the Increased cost Of living,
As employees OF the Oregon Short Line
Railroad company. We afIiX our sigma
turcs here below as In harmony with the
above declaration anG authorize their
presentation 10 the Interstate commerce
10 any official federal or state who has
anything To do with railroad rate making
or Ial.iUad regulation.
Statement Of Earnings
Gross and net earnings of the following
railroads for The fiscal years ending June
50. under the sworn statements to the
Interstate commerce commission:
Union Pacific Sysicul-
Gross. Net.
12I0 49,. ...,. SSS. sos. 5000 Si3a7j, ,7S2. no
1909 o.. ....... 1880 i2S.o0 40 S5T. .3j2 On
Increase ..Sil.liG,0 AL 90 8 2.5i6. $1,000
Southern Pacnc tPaclhc Systcm)-
1910 .. ..... 39j lS9. 004.0 1850 i7i 90