New-York tribune., 1910-06-09
HIGHER RATE EDUCATION
Railway Business Men Set a
Task for Themselves.
WANT PUBLIC BEHIND THEM
Railroad and Equipment Inter
ests Satisfied to Leave Mat
ter TO Commission.

Tl,a executive committee Of the Railway
Business Mems Association held meeting
81 the Hotel Belmont yesterday afternoon
70 begin their campaign OF educating the
people 70 2 belief in higher freight rates.
George A Post. president Of the STANDARD
coupler Company and president Of the as
-e~jstion. said after the meeting that Presi-
,-ent Tsft's conferences with the railroad
men in Washington were the Tisest things
done bv any administration for q long time
This association never opposed railway
regulation when it was just ne said. but
the railways noU are threatened With over
regulation A great business disturbance
might have been brought on and hundreds
or thousands Of persons thrown out OF
work al over the country. President Taft
has prevented this The whole question is
now left to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission for fair inquiry and settlement
i do not believe that the government IN
tends to 90 any injustice 70 the railroads
After the commission has inquired into the
problem I believe il viii approve the in
crease IN rates The railroads have had TO
raise wages. on account Of the high cost
Of living and II is only fair that the rail-
roads should he allowed 70 increase their
rates
our association represents $4,000 600 Of
oapitaJ.' Mr.. Post continued. and. allowing
four 70 g family we support approximate
Is soea,ooo persons. as we employ 10000
men II takes 5000 freight cars to haul
our annual production. We had eeo6cao men
idle in 1905. as q result Of the panic of 1907.
The railroads lost 20 per cent Of their earn
fnRs. but we lost 20 per cent of ours.
We don't want 70 see those conditions
come again this year. But If the railroads
are not allowed to increase their rates and
tbev curtan expenditures for new equip
r1ent. we will have TO close our factories
ana tarn our men out Of work. And it win
be the same with men in other lines Of
business all over the country.
The meeting adopted a series OF resolu-
tions urging the immediate adoption by
Congress Of the Presidents railway rate
bill. and an additional appropriation TO In
crease the facilities Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission so that the new freight
schedules could be handled in the least pos
sIhe time. The railroads were urged 70
have their arguments for an increase tn
rates prepared and the shippers to study
the rate question from the railroad point OF
view as well as their own.
N c Brown, president Of the New York
Central lines. gave cut yesterday the fol-
lowing statement IN regard to the confer
ence IN washington on Tuesday between
President Taft and the Eastern railroad
presidents.
Mr.. Brown said the result of the confer
enoe al Washington yesterday was very
satisfactory. He declined TO discuss the
probable action Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission other than TO express his full
confidence in the intention OF the Commis
sion To deal fairly with all interests.
II the railroads can submit evidence that
the increase in freight rates asked for is
-rTfl h i've ~le-y g7e
not make such showing they Will fail
Mr.. Brown said the best evidence Of his
faith in the result was the fact that all
requests for the cancellation of orders for
equipment had been Withdrawn and in
structions have been issued to resume work
on AL improvements where a suspension
had been ordered The arrangement made
in the conference at Washington had no
reference whatever to passenger rates.