The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-13
Nation Is Seen as Owner of All
Railway Systems.
Roads Submit Ultimatum to
Commerce Commission.
1T is COST VS.. INCOME,
Feared Deficits Will Force Prom.
critics From Private Hands.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.

Chicago, Aug. 13.-Four committees
OF western railways are drawing I'M
Tor the doubling government a me-
mortal which, they say, will bring the
question Of government ownership Of
the nations railroads squarely before
the federal authorities and the people.
western railways, according to Of
fcials, join in preparing an ultimatum
to the interstate commerce commission
upon which their existence must stand
or fall. 0'~---U
This memorial will be ready August
Y or %. 1t will be presented in Chi
cago to an examiner delegated by the
interstate commerce commission. It
will say that increasing expense Of
operation demands proportionate in
creases in freight rates.
Deficits VIII Gust Private Control.
IF we cannot demonstrate to the
interstate commerce commission in
time Tor acti n to save us from i'm
pending Deficits" says a traffic Of
nclal, that an increase in revenue is
Is not to exceed the growth in income
from traffic-it is the end. 1 know of
no resource we shall not have ex-
hausted. My road may as well, if no
remedy Is offered, prepare for delivery
into the hands of government man
position in the business world"
The memorial by western railroads
is prepared by conferences held almost
daily in Chicago offices. Four com
mittees-one composed of the legal adj
visers, one of traffic chiefs, one of
operating chiefs, and one of account
ing chiefs of all western railways-are
building up the ultimatum of the car
rierS.
Specialists AnaIyze Conditions.
The traffic committee is preparing
an estimate of the proposed increases
in expenses and their probable effect
on their part in managing railroads.
The operating committee will prepare
figures showing advances in prices of
materials and in operating cost The
accounting committee will analyze the
financial condition Of the carriers and
estimate the probable effects of the
proposed freight rate reductions on
their roads.
The legal department. comprising
chiefs from the different interested
railroads and experts in transportation
law, gathered from all over the ma
ton, will fashion from the masses of
figures their pleas and will determine
their moves, should any be made,
through the courts to the final ease
ment of the load railroads say they are
dying under.
The decision by the interstate COM
ul6Tc6 commission Will De given DUR
ing the fall, after they have consid-
cred the pleadings and figures sub
mitted in the memorial.
Shippers Show $94,OOO,OO Increase.
Shippers have advanced an estimate
that the net earnings of all roads in
the country during the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1910, have increased
$94, 100000 over the preceding year
Railroad men assert that a large pro-
portion of this increase has been eaten
up by increases in expense.
Local officials of the Rock Island
say they know nothing of reports that
the control of the property has
changed, or is about to change, and
that reorganization of the system is
impending.
President H. U. Nudge sailed for
Europe on July 26 to join his family
in Germany apparently in ignorance
of any new developments affecting the
financial interests in the road. He was
in Berlin on Friday and is not expect
ed to return to Chicago until the first
week in September.
Faith in Moore Control.
Throughout the general offices of the
road however, the belief was strong
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