Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-06
Especial Correspondence


Washington, April 6.-Representa-
tives of shippers who are coming to
Washington these days to take up var
ious matters before the interstate COM
merce commission are complaining that
the railroads are making an effort
gradually to increase rates. They in
sist the roads are in effect trying to do
by indirection what they we're pre-
vented by the interstate commerce
commission from doing about two years
ago when a general increase Of rates
was sought.
The blanket increases which were
at that time sought by the commission
stirred up a wave Of protest all over
the country. The interstate commerce
commission considered the demands Of
the roads and held they were not justi-
fed. It was felt at the time by many
Of the railroad men and by many per-
sors friendly to the increase Of rates
that the roads were going about the
matter in the wrong fashion and that
because Of the indiscreet attempt to
shove up rates over wide areas and at
fecting many lines Of industry. the at
tempt would not succeed.
Astute Course to Same End.
But it appears now that the roads are
taking more astute course to reach
the same end This is to increase rates
here and there and thus slowly lift the
level Of the whole rate fabric.
A recent ruling of the interstate
commerce commission on the attempt
Of the railroads thru the middle west
to increase sheep and cattle rates to
the extent Of SO 1-3 per cent has served
to call attention to the situation. The
commission sat on the proposed in
crease and turned 1t down. The mem
bers Of the commission could not see
that 1t was justified.
II is declared by attorneys for ship
pers who were following the course OF
things on the sheep and cattle rates
closely that the action Of the commits
sion in refusing the increase was I'M
portant not only because OF the fact
that the new rates would have been
burdensome to stock interests but that
the ruling showed the commission
would be slow to permit the roads to
carry forward anything like plan to
effect general increase of rates by
taking schedules piecemeal. Had the
roads succeeded in getting cattle and
sheep rates raised they would nave
been much encouraged.
An Expensive Winter For Roads.
But while the shippers are fighting
higher rates and the public generally
is opposing them. the railroad side is
putting up a strong plea as to why
higher rates are justified, imperative
in fact. The roads represent that the
past winter has been an unusually hard
one. that it has cost heavily in rolling
stock, in equipment of all sorts and In
every way has been unusually expen-
sive. 1t has put lot Of equipment out
Of commission and the result Is that
the effect is being felt in poorer train
service. 1t is represented on the side
of the roads that things have reached
a point where some way must be FOUND
to increase revenues or the service Will
decline to a point that will be serious
for shippers. Not only is it difficult
to get money for extensions. the roads
maintain, but existing lines are SUI
fering. and II the service is to be kept
nm to standard, then rates must be al
lowed to rise.
It is the prediction Of many well-in-
formed students and observers OF the
rate situation that it will be up once
more for general public consideration
and for the consideration of the inter-
state commerce commission before
many months.