New-York tribune., 1911-02-24
IFrom The Tribune Bureau.l J

Washington. Feb. 23-The Interstate
Commerce Commission handed down Is
decision in all the important rate cases
before it this afternoon, and In each case
denied the application Of the railroads 10
increase rates-in effect, instructlns
them to continue their present charges
without advance. The commission hnus
that while the cost of operation, espe-
cially with regard TO wages, mas IN
creased so. also have the operating rev.
enues. In the case of the Western lines.
II predicts that by the end of the ilscai
wear 1911 the carriers will enjoy earn
ings as high as those of 1910. which were
the highest in their history. It is further
suggested that the figures furnlsheo ps
the railroads indicate that under sKiilu'
management additional tonnage may be
handled without increasing the cost OF
! the service given.
| Proposed advances in class frelght
rates in official classification territory.
aggregating among all the railroads IN
the territory approximately S2Ioooo~
year, were disapproved.
In the case involving the increases ny
the railroads in Western trunk line ter
ritorv the commission also declined TO
approve the proposed advances in COM
modify rates.
Must Cancel Advances by March 10.
The carriers in both cases are required
| to cancel their advanced tariffs on or be-
fore March 10 and restore their former
rates. II this requirement should not be
complied with the commission will issue
formal order suspendng the proposed
advances and putting into effect the eN-
listing rates for at least two years.
In the case of the Eastern roads. the
commission finds that while nothing but
an actual test can prove the accuracy OF
its conclusions. no evidence submitted
esta blishes the necessity for higher rates.
and il asserts that i'm view Of the lberai
returns received by the railroads in the
last ten years they should be required To
show the necessity with reasonable cer-
tainty before an increase is allowed.
The commission adds that. should the
future demonstrate that its optimistic
will accept these conditions as sufficient
basis for a further consideration OF the
subject. With the Eastern roads, as
with those OF the West, 1t asserts as
prerequisite to the privilege of advancing
rates the satisfaction of the commission
that proper economy has been exercised
in the purchase of supplies. the payment
of wage and the general conduct OF
business.
In the case Of the Railroad Commission
of Texas against the Atchison. Topeka
4, Santa Fe Railroad and other carriers.
known popularly as the Southwestern
rate case. the commission declined To
disturb the commodity rates or the first
class rates complained OF. The defend
ants are ordered however, To reduce the
second class rates. which we're increased
from 81 21 to 81 20. to 81 -. ON the re-
manning classes the defendants are re-
ouired TO restore the rates i'm effect be-
fore the increased rates were published.
A Surprise to Railroad Men.
In brief. this is the disposition made
Dy the COlilliiiSSl'i VI 'ii' hiNSN i"b'A'ohN
cases ever brought to it's attention. In
a sense the decisions were surprise 10
railroad officials and other experts who
bad followed the proceedings closely. a
majority OF them believing that the COM
mission would grant some increase TO
the Western lines. If not TO the Eastern.
After considering the whole subject
exhaustively, however. from every point
of view, the commission could not see it's
way clear TO grant any advance in rates,
although II comedies that. in the case
of some Of the roads. an increased rev.
enue is needed. In the Eastern case the
commission was embarrassed by the ad-
mitted fact that several OF the lines in
the territory were paying good dividends
on existing rates, while other carriers
in the same territory were barely able
to make both ends meet--a few OF them
scarcely that.
In the Western case the carriers mad.
a powerful plea for increased revenue IN
order that they might have additional
money TO put into improvements which
would enable them to handle the con-
stantly increasing traffic of the country
with greater facility.
The same argument was advanced IN