The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-08-07
NOW BELOW TRAFFIC Cost
Appeal Is to be Made to Interstate
Commerce Commission for a Review
of All Rates Now in Force on Roads
Operating in Middle West and West.

i cOHctIteu iHUNeHeHI On Cne part
of western railroads to obtain relief
i from what are termed unwise and I'M
called for rate reductions was launched
in Chicago when heads Of the princi-
pal roads between Chicago and the
Missouri River met and made plans
to continue their fight in the courts
against further reductions. They al
so may appeal to state authorities and
the interstate commerce commission
/ It was pointed out that the present
reduced rates do not justify the char
acter of service demanded by modern
/ travel; that freight tariff reductions
are unjust and unnecessary, and that
as a result of decreased rates and in
creased expenses western railroad CON
struction is practically at a standstill
and railroads find it difficult to obtain
capital for necessary improvements
and equipment.
| The following statements setting
forth the position of the railroads
were issued.
The railroads have promptly obey
ed the laws and orders in Missouri, Ar
kansas and Minnesota reducing the pas
senger and freight rates, which were
l hn S11h nf ha iciO hxz
I the supreme court Of the United States.
Reduced schedules On passenger rates
have been put into effect in each state,
as well as the reduced freight rates,
but the tariffs carrying these rates have
been fled under protest. In the case
of few of the roads the claim that
the rates were too low was sustained,
and these roads were permitted to
maintain their rates, and will do so if
competitive conditions may permit, the
practical result Of the decisions is to
affect all lines alike in competitive
business, which comprises the great
est part of the traffic involved.
cit must not be understood that
| the supreme court has decided any
of these rates to be reasonable. The
lower courts after long and patient
hearings, decided in each instance
that the rates were unreasonably low,
and all that the supreme court decid-
ed upon this branch of the cases is
| that further proof should have been
produced by the railroads.
Railroad men have always believed
that the two cent passenger rate is not
enough to pay for the character Of pas
senger service demanded by modern
travel, and with the increase in steel
equipment, automatic block signals,
high speed tracks, new passenger sta
tions, etc, that is constantly required,
this is more certainly true now than
ever. The freight rate reductions are
unjust and unnecessary.
In the east the trunk lines are ask
| ing five per cent increase in freight
rates, and there is much indication
that public opinion favors it. West Of
Chicago the railroads, as a result of
these decisions, are facing heavy re-
auctions in many important rates, and
there never was time when reductions
in rates were more unwise and called
for with less reason than the present.
"Several of these reductions were
ordered FIVE or more years ago under
conditions of public opinion that have
since largely changed. In the mean
time the expenses of the railroads
have greatly increased, and the cost of
new capital for necessary improvements
has become almost prohibitive. AS a
consequence new construction has prac-
tically ceased, and investors are grad
ually withdrawing their funds from
railroad securities and turning to
other forms of investment.
Believing that these reductions are
not only wrong but untimely and I'M
necessary, the railroads have put these
low rates into effect under protest and
propose to continue their efforts to
have them increased. New evidence
will be carefully prepared to meet the
suggestions contained in the opinions
of the supreme court in case further
litigation should become necessary and
consideration is also given to an APP
peal to the state authorities and the
interstate commerce commission for
relief instead of again resorting to
the courts