The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-25
OBSERVE RESULT
 OF RATE DECISION Officials of the Commission
 Keenly Interested IS MISREPRESENTATION Commissioners Think Real Effect of Their Decision Is Due to Mis-
 take-Expect Railroads to
 Come Back
IS MISAPPREHENSION

Washington, February 24.-Officials of the interstate commerce commission, it Is hardly necessary to say, observed with keenest interest today the results of and comments upon the decision of the com mission in the railroad rate cases. Some doubt was expressed today by those in and about the commission who have been most familiar with these celebrated cases as to the railroads taking any further &C., ton In the matter, such as appealing from the commissions decision to the newly inaugurated court of commerce. The fact that the decision of the commission was unanimous in all the cases was believed to justify the opinion that the railroads would prefer perhaps to make new ap- plication to the commission on new rec ord of testimony.
 There was d disposition at the offices of the commission today to comment upon the fluctuations In the stock markets as indicating a misapprehension of the scope and effect of the commissions decision. Special stress was laid upon the fact that no reductions whatever in rates were or dered by the commissions; that the rates SO-CdlleQ OlliClhi CioSSii'efeiNii sNiiANOt' remained as they have been for more than 20 years.
 It was pointed out also that the railway stocks affected most seriously by the an ,nouncement of the decision were those of lines that in no respect could be affected practically by the decisions.
 None of the far western roads, like the Southern Pacific, the Union Pacific, the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern was interested in other than sentiment tal or sympathetic way In the rate cases. Their rates were not touched by the cases decided.
 One of the commissioners who would not be quoted by name, said
 s.Ncne of the lines west of the Missouri river could be affected materially py our action in either the eastern or western case Their rates and the rates or all the reads are lust the same today as they were yesterday They are disturbed In neither their rates or their traffic. Yet we have the anomalous situation in Wall street of those very roads suffering most from the slump in stock prices. Curious ly enough Reading, of all of the east ern lines appears to suffer most rom the drop in prices, yet as compared wih many other eastern roads 1t is doing fine business"
 The commissioner called attention to the heavy fall in the prices of the Pacinc roads which apparently sustained heavier losses than some of the eastern lines; vet he insisted they were not directly concerned in the decisions. and only very moderately concerned very indirectly
 No formal orders were issued by the commission in the cases decided. It was suggested that the proposed advanced rates be annulled before March 10, and if they were not withdrawn by that time the commission would issue an order put tipG the existing rates into effect for at least two years. On such an order the railroads could appeal to the commerce court. but it was argued here today that if they were defeated in that court they would be in worse position than now, because their rates would then have to remain in effect for two years in com pliance with the commissions order.
 The general expectation about the com mission offices is that another effort will be made by the railroads, perhaps in the. course of a few months, to obtain an ad- vance in rates.