Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-05-03
RAILROAD HEADS
PLAN TO|NCREASE
ALL FREIGHT RATES
Great Conference is Held in New
York City.
COMMITTEE NAMED
TO MAKE INVESTIGATION
The Carriers viii Soon Make AppIi
cation to the interstate Commerce
Commission For a Reopenino OF the
Eastern Advance Rate Case

Cation 10 tHe Interstate Nomfntrce
Commission For q Reopenino Of the
Eastern Advance Rate Case.
NEW YORK. May ~. AT a confer
ence III this city of railway presidents
representing the principal likes IN
what ii known as the official classii
cation territory. d committee consist
Ing of Daniel Willard, president OF the
Baltimore and Ohio system; Samuel
Rsa. president of the Pennsylvania
Railroad and W &. Brown, president
OF the New York Central lines. was
selected to take mp the question OF an
advance OF freight rates. and II was
understood that the carriers will soon
make application to the Interstate
Commerce Commission for reopen
| ing OF case No. 34Oo, otherwise known
as the Eastern Advance Rate Case"
which was heard and passed upon
by the Interstate Commerce. Commis-
sion IN 1910.
President willard, OF the Baltimore
and Ohio, in explaining the situation
stated
when the matter OF an increase
| In rates of freight was considered
three years ago It was proposed BY
the RAILROADS to increase generally
the so-caiied class rates and some of
the commodity rates. II was urged ID
4 the time by those opposed TO the sug-
gested advances that a fairer and bet
ter wa to obtain an increase II nee
cssary would be by small advance
on all rates instead of the larger adj
| vance as was proposed. OF some OF the
rites. and It has been very clearly
brought out during recent years and
particularly In the numerous com
plants filed with the Interstate Com
merce Commission, that the relation
of rates between localities is OF much
greater importance TO the shipping
| public than the actual rate per cent
| With this In mind. the carriers now
hope to obtain the consent OF the
commission for an advance OF per
cent on freight OF all characters. and
It is believed that such an advance
If granted, will create little II any dis
turbance in commercial conditions
"The railway executives feel that
the changed conditions which have
come about have go narrowed the mar
gin between income and outgo that
a ten per cent increase OF all freight
traffic would be justified. They rec
ognize, however, the importance oil
obtaining the necessary revenue in
such way as to cause the least pos
sible disturbance OF commercial con-
ditions, and on that account feel that
1t would be better 10 ask for an In
crease of five per cent only at this
time. II has been urged in certain
| quarters that some OF the commod-
ity rates now in existence are rela-
lively too low and that they ought
to be raised before any general adj
vance is made and to this view the
railroad executives freely assent, hut
they also say that while they would
be glad to see better adjustment
of these rates. II can only be brought
about by the cooperation of the ship.
pers with the railroads and with the
| assistance of the commission.
"Since the pervIous hearing the
railroads generally have expended
| large sums for equipment and add
tional facilities, and while there has
been some response In the way OF in
creased gross revenues, the surplus
income after paying charges and div
idends has been so narrow as to not
encourage the further expenditure re-
quired to keep the railroads abreast
! with the growing demand OF the bust
ness OF the country.
"The bearing Of this situation on
| the question Of rates was aptiy refer
red to by Commissioner Prouty in
his opinion on the previous hearing;
Our railroads should be kept in a
high state of efficiency. and railroad
charges should be sufficient to permit
this. Necessary extensions and i'm
provements should be made. and the
treatment Of our railroads by the pub.