The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-05-27


or. at least, that the Commission
should Investigate this claim with
painstaking care and from all angles.
The railroads of the country, observes
the apparently friendly ST. Louis Re.
public, might have taken care Of
themselves in spite of high prices, bur.
densome legislation, and lowered
rates, but when the weather joined its
forces against them they were com.
PEELED to cry for mercy"
THE winter of 1911-12 was
the most severe since 1882, and the
most expensive for railway operation
throughout the northern part of the
country. This winter was followed by
a spring whose floods paralyzed rail.
way transportation in the lower Mis-.
sissippi Valley, destroyed crops which
would have furnished large tonnage
and made much track reconstruction
necessary. And then, this spring the
floods have desolated regions hitherto
considered immune from danger, para
lyzed transportation throughout the
Mississippi Valley as whole, and
made extensive reconstruction imper-
alive In many States. Meanwhile ties
cost more than ever; steel rails have
been breaking, and must be so manu-
featured as to cost more; State legis-
latures are requiring electric head
lights, automatic signals, and larger
crews; and every labor dispute re-
sults-as it should-in higher wages
for railroad men. -.
/ These physical disasters put the
agonizing twist on the railways need.
In view of them they ought to have
the per cent. advance in rates they
request. The Republic believes that
the good sense of the American peo-
pie will approve the request"
| Compared with this, the statements
issuing from the companies seem rath-
er modest. The roads concerned are
the trunk lines operating between
New York and Chicago If their APP
plication is approved, the New York
Evening Post points out, 1T will
mean general increase in freight
rates, for the New York-Chicago
schedules are used as the foundation
in all rate-making." The railway ex-
ecutives, says President Willard, of
the Baltimore & Ohio, in a public
statement, hope to obtain the con-
sent OF the Commission for an u
vance of per cent on freigh. Of all
character, and 1t is believed that such
an advance, if granted, will create lit
tie, Il any, disturbance in commercial
co..ditions." Mr.. Willard continues
"Since the previous hearing the
railroads generally have expended
large sums for equipment and addi-
tional facilities, and while there has
been some response in the way of in
creased gross revenues, the surplus
income, after paying charges and d.
vidends, has been so narrowed as not
to encourage the further expenditures
required to keep the railroads abreast
with the. growing demand Of the bust
ness of the country, =.
unless the carriers are enabled to
increase their revenue In some man.
ner, and the plan above proposed
seems likely to meet with less oppos-
ition than any other, their ability
already limited-to provide such addi-
tional equipment and facilities as will
be necessary to take care of the grow
ing demands Of the country will be
very seriously impaired"
The fact that since 1910 the Inter-
state Commerce Commission has ap-
proved &C rate advances in special
cases brought before it, as against so
disapproved and Is approved in part,
seems to the Springfield Republican
sign that the Commission will treat
fairly the present request Of the car
riers. The chief task before the rail-
road heads, thinks the New York Sun S
Washington correspondent, will be to
persuade the Commission to grant the
general increase without waiting for
the results of the Governments ply
steal valuation of the roads, a task
which will take from three to five
years. Other editors and writer's de-
clare with significant emphasis that
"if the railways come with clean
hands" they are likely to succeed
Eastern shippers are said to be pre-
pairing to oppose this increase, though
not so vigorously as they did on the
previous occasion. One Of them re-
fers to the investigation Of the New
Ravens finances, and remarks:
Some of the roads are admittedly
in need of increased revenues, but
the commercial public insists en-
phatically on being shown that this
condition has not been the result of