The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-06-06
FIGHT / ON RATES |: IS ;
lS:NAT|0NWIDE
Both Sides Lining Up for
Battle in Courts.
WILL AID THE CARRIERS

Executive Committee Of Railway Bust
ness Association to Issue "strona
APPEAR to Federal Officials and Peo-
pie to Consider in Broad Way the
Necessities Of the Railroads and
Avoid "caIamitous BIunder." s
New York, June, 6.-The fight for
and against the increased freight rates
by the railroads Of the country is
rapidly taking on titanic proportions.
On the side Of the railroads are be-
ing lined up the manufacturers of
railway materials, equipment and sup
plies, and through them every person
who draws benefit from the sale or
manufacture of anything used by the
railroads and all merchants who profit
from the wage earners of those so en-
ployed.
On the other side are the manufac-
turers, farmers and shippers gener.
ally. Injected into the fight are the
thousands of commuters who are en-
ragged by the announcement that all
communication rates are to be increased
TO meet the increased payrolls of the
railroads., The commuters first want
ed to know why they were to be the
goats and stand the burden for the
wage inereases.s .:.s4t{.% 80.
Them came the announcement that
Observation-Disclosures also going up and
the commuters. Joined hands with the
shippers to aid the attorney general in
his fight to keep rates DOWN
The inevitable result is q conflict
that will interest every man, woman
and child in the United States So far
the railroads have the worst of the
struggle, inasmuch as the increase in
freight rates in the West has been en-.
joined in the federal court and the
Eastern roads will probably be kept,
temporarily, at least, from raising
their rates. ..r
That the railroads realize influence
will be required to make the people
see the necessity for higher rates is
shown by call for a conference Of
the general executive committee of the
Railway Business association.
Propose to Aid Railroads. s..
That association will meet in the
Hotel Belmont on next Wednesday
and will consider plans for aiding the
railroads.
Composed as it is of manufacturers
of railway equipments, materials and
supplies in twenty-five states it was
brought into the fight by the railroads
who threatened to cancel all orders for
new cars, engines and equipment
President George A. Post, in discuss
ing the situation, said that. at meet
ing Strong appeal will be prepared
to the people and federal officials to
consider in broad way the necessi-
ties Of the railroads and avoid the
calamitous blunder Of technical VIC
tories in litigation which may result
In widespread Industrial and CONNER
cial Distress
It was intimated by persons inter
ested in this association that pressure
will be brought to bear on President
Taft of such a character that the de-
partment of justice will be compelled
to withdraw its suit against the West
orn roads.
Already it is said the influence of j.
p. Morgan & Coz exerted through
George w. Perkins, has led the West
ern shippers to rescind much Of their
opposition to increased rates. Per-
kins, 1t Is declared by men familiar
with the situation here, has pointed
out to the shippers that they could
pass any increase on to the consumer
and that their business would not be
hurt by q reasonable advance In
rates.