Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-03

10 lne concentration VI Tie pcoplS ol eAS
polls
Government Is Ready to Act
Against Eastern Railroads
Protests from eastern and northern
shippers are all that are necessary to
set the machinery of the government in
action against the increases in freight
rates filed by the railroads OF the east
with the interstate commerce commits
sion. 1t was said today.
At the Department of Justice the At
torney General would make no state
ment today in regard to the increased
rates. 1t was denied that any complaints
from eastern shippers had been received
yet.
1t was pointed out. however, that
Increases in the rates by the eastern
roads have been filed with the interstate
commerce commission little more than a
day, and shippers have not yet had time
10 formulate and submit protests. The
rates arc not to go into effect until July
or later. giving the shippers ample
time TO make any protests they see fit.
In view of the action taken by the De-
pa-tment of Justice a ~ai"st the increased
rates filed by the Western Trunk Line
committee. and which were to have gone
ifllp effect June L IL is eN1ueut CIlat tue
department will take similar steps to re-
strain the eastern roads from increasing
their rates. There was a rumor today
that already plans had been made to
bring suit against the roads in Baltimore.
This was denied at the Department of Jus
tice.
Practically All In.
Practically all Of the eastern trunk
lines have completed the filing of their
revised tariffs. 4 few tariffs OF the
various systems. including the Erie and
the New York, Ontario and Western. in
connection with the Canadian Pacific.
reached the commission today. They Will
become effective July ) next.
d. T Lawrence of Boston as agent for
the National Dispa tch-Great Eastern line
"a fast freight Notwithstanding the Bos-
ton and Maine railroad and the Central
Vermont Railway Company. transmitted
his tariffs to the commission by mail.
Not content with the mail facilities. hte
appeared in person at the offices of the
commission with duplicate tariffs in or
der to be absolutely assured they were
fled properly.
Thus far the changes-chiefiy advances
in rates made this week. arplq to the
eastern and middle western portions OF
the country. No modinfications in routes
Vet have been made by the Southern.
southwestern or racine ttdSl ili"S NJ
information has reached the interstate
commerce commission of the intention OF
those roads as to rate changes
Schedules All Alike.
The eastern roads have flied rates as
individual railroad companies, unlike tine
twenty-five roads doing business in the
v,'ddle west. which filed their rates
through the Western Trunk Line Commit
Zee But it was said by officials at the inter-
state commerce commission today. that
the increases by these roads are believed
20 be practically identical
That being the case, the officials point
ont there must have been concerted &C
ton on the part of the roads to increase
the rates. This would be used as evil
deace against the roads that there had
been q conspiracy to raise rates I'm viola
ton of the Sherman antitrust Law.
II was rumored today that the western
roads. against which the government has
already acted, are now taking steps to
r=--e their Increased rates iin1 in
dividual roads instead of the Western
Trunk Line Committee. Even If this be
tfie il ~ unnheiy mat the .uyyi ..ment
would fail to renew its action against
the roads. taking the stand that there
has been collision among these roads to
raise rates.
Among the eastern roads which have
Ierstate commerce commission, TO take
effect from July TO July =. are the New
York Central and Hudson river Cad, Del
aware, Lackawana and Western: Eric,
West Shore, Pennsylvania. Central Rail-
road of New Jersey, Baltimore and Ohio.
I.chigh Valley, Boston and Maine. Boston
and Albany and New York. New Haven
and Hartford. The rates of increase by
these roads, all of which belong to the
Eastern Trunk Line Committee, are said
10 he practically Identical
The force at the interstate commerce
commission. whose duty il is 10 check
ZIP the increases in the freight rates. is
Inadequate to cope with the situation. SO
r1pidly have the increases in ra' been
filed. II NAV he several DAYS bp g they
are all checked up.
Never in the history of the commission
has there been such a deluge of rates
filed as in the last few DAYS The rail-
roads have not hesitated. on account of
the suit brought by the government
against the Western Trunk Line Asso-
station. They are going ahead with the
increases i'll freight rates, alleging that
the increase in wares and in operating
expenses OF the roads make it necessary
to increase freight rates