The Washington herald., 1910-05-23
WHERE HAS IT GONE?
S2iO,OOO,OOO Taken from the Rail-
roads and Lost TO Consumers,


The cost OF food, coal, clothing, &C..
has advanced since 1898 an average OF a
per cent. said B. F. Yoakum in a speech
delivered before the national convention
OF tho Farmers Educational and Co
operative Union. In other words, it re-
Qulres a.4i to-day 20 purchase the same
goods that 81 would purchase ten years
ago The difference OF $40 on $1,000
means great deal 10 a great many
people. They must nnd a way 20 Increase
ther Income or decrease their cost of
living Transportation has not contrib
uted 20 the increased cost OF living. as
freight rates have steadily been reduced:
neither have reductions IN freight rates
benefited the consumers.
Through reductions in rates made by
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
State railroad commissions, and legisla-
tive acts, railroad earnings are now
$24O00o0OO less annually than they would
be II the rates Of 1885 were in effect. Il
has been stated in public speeches that
this $24o,o00,000 taken from the railroads
was that much gain 10 the public To
contradict this statement and show that
the consumer did not benefit by reduc-
tons IN rates, It IS only necessary for
you 20 compare your bills now and in
past years. You pay no less for your
clothes, your shoes. your hats, your
household furniture, your farming I'm
/ plements, &c. On the other hand, rates
are only 20 per cent Of what they aver
aged from 1850 70 1890.
/ This S240000.0O0 taken from the rail-
road earnings went 20 the dealers, who
saved that amount on the goods and
commodities sold 20 consumers, and who
charged YOU just as much as or more
/ than you paid for the same goods before
/ one Of the subjects upon which the
/ politician creates prejudice against the
railroads IS the so-caled burden placed
upon the people through the overissu-
auce OF securities. Two hundred and
forty million dollars year IS 4 per cent
on 5000. 10000. which IS 43 per cent Of
the total capitalization OF the railroads
OF tho United States. This extra profit
OF S240, Q00,Coo a year TO the dealers is
just as great a burden as - paid for
Legitimate increase OF capitalization used
IN new construction and improvement OF
train service 20 handle your business,
only It IS paid out IN different form.
The thing the railroad and the con-
sumer are Jointly interested IN IS the
fact that under present political meth
DDS OF doing business the railroad stands
1.-THE loss OF rs revenue and the consumer
does not get H. Recent legislation has
been IN the interest Of the comparatively
few OF the counuy's population who 1--we
on tho profits between the producer and
1.-The consumer. and all they get through
freight reductions IS that much added
TO their profits.
believe In railroad legislation. 7 an
opposed 90 excessive capitalization.
am opposed also 20 legislation that places
future construction IN the hands Of ex.
isting companies. which VIII be against
the best welfare OF our agricultural IN.
terests. handicap every farmer who ha,
not convenient transportation facilities
and continue idle the many million acre.
Of good land remote from railroads.
Legislative investigating committee.
VIII not solve the question of cost Of liv
ing. such committees are political, ant
. politics VIII influence their deliberations
/, The cost Of living VIII never be too grea
in this country when products can 90 di
rect from the railroad station 20 the con
sumer at near first cost