Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-19

SHIPPERS in CHICAGO CONFER
ENCE ASK GOVERNMENT RUL-
ING ON FREIGHT CHARGE IN
CREASE ORDERED.

chicago, May 1S.-F'ederal arD1tra-
ton by the Interstate commerce COM
increase in freight rates by American
railroads was demanded by the 400 rep
resentatives of the great and small
shippers Of the country in resolutions
adopted at the conference held in the
gold room Of the Congress hotel. A
committee of seventeen, representa-
tive Of the entire country was appoint
ed to seek this contradictory method
of warding off the classified freight
rate increase. Failing to bring the
railroads to terms by this method, the
committee is empowered to take what
ever action Is deemed necessary to
bring about the results sought by the
shippers.
other methods of forcing the rail-
way systems to abandon their threat
ened rate increases, advanced by var
ious delegates, We're: publicity, fed
eral injunction, development Of COM
peting water ways and political pun
ishment
Delegates Adopt a Resolution.
The following Is the resolution
adopted by the permanent organiza-
ton formed by the delegates at yes
terdays conference:
Whereas, Officials of the principal
railroads Of the United States have
contended that increased cost Of oper-
alton in recent. years justifies and
necessitates an increase in freight
rates; and
Whereas, An analysis Of the statis-
tics filed by the railroads and compil-
ed by the Interstate commerce COM
mission, notwithstanding such increas-
ed cost Of operation, indicates the net
income per mile Of road for 1907 has
increased 345 per cent over 1897, which
years were taken by the chairman of
the trunk line roads in his argument
for an advance in rates, the statements
filed by the carriers with the Interstate
commerce commission for the first
seven months Of the year ending June
80. 1910, indicate even more favorable
net income than for the year ending
June 80, 1907, the banner year for the
carriers; and
Whereas, The railroads in official
classification territory have announced
they will make effective at an early
date a general advance in all class and
commodity rates; and
Whereas, Most Of the principal
trunk lines in said territory show a
substantial increase in net operating
income for the first seven months Of
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1910,
over a corresponding period Of 1909
and 1907, thus indicating a healthy
growth Of business and relatively
cheaper operating cost throughout Of
fetal classification territory; and
Whereas, In the judgement of this
convention, careful analysis of the
statements filed with the Interstate
commerce commission by the carriers
shows more reasons for a reduction
than for an advance in rates in said
territory; therefore, be it
Resolved, That this convention de-
mands that the carriers in official
classification territory suspend the
proposed advance in class aud COM
modify rates and submit the question
to the interstate commerce commits
sion for arbitration to determine from
the facts whether any general adj
vance in rates is reasonable or neces-
sary; and be it further
Resolved, That, pending and during
such arbitration, we oppose the gen
eral advance in rates as proposed by
the lines in said territory: and be it
further
Resolved. That committee of f1f-
teen be appointed by the chair to car
ry into effect this plan for arbitration.
Failing in such conciliatory meth
DDS, said committee is empowered to
take such action as will in its judg-
ment prevent the proposed general ad-
vance ia freight rates.
G. S. Swartz, chairman; G. Roy Hall,
John c. Scales, S. G. Mead Fred w.
Boltz, John V. Farwell. r. Fl. Arm
strong, Walter B. Moore, A. R. Ebi,
William C. Throne, Ira S. Bassett,
Frank E. Jones, H. G. Barlow.