Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-03
RAILROAD HEADS
Dislike DECISION
Central and Western Officials
Hope for Little Relief
From Increases.
CALL REPORT A SCOLDING
New York Central and Pennsylvania
Lines Agree That Their
Roads Will Benefit.

disappointment over the decision o.
the interstate commerce commission
in the eastern rate case. The genera
BELIEF was that no relief had been Civ
en- the roads. and all they received was
"a scolding which took the form OF
stump speech" as it was termed by
E. P. Ripley, president of the Santa Fe
Neither Mr.. Ripley, speaking for the
western railroads, nor F. A. Delano
chairman of the eastern roads com
mittee, saw much promise of relief in
the decision. Both asserted that poll
tics had played too prominent a part
in the proceedings and that the real
issue had been befogged by the en-
trance of so-called economies of oper-
alton, increases of passenger rates
and cutting of various allowances to
smaller companies.
Disappointing, Says Ripley.
"The decision was a decided disap-
pointment to all railroad men," said
Mr.. Ripley The commission appears
to have given fractional part of what
was asked and what was proved to be
needed.
While I have not studied the decis-
ion, the published summary sounds to
me as if it were a stump speech on
the part of political aspirants. 1t is
far from being the utterance of judi
Cial body. l cannot see where the rail-
roads interested will get much relief"
Discussing the effect the decision may
have upon the plan of western roads
to ask for an advance in freight rates,
Mr.. Ripley said:
81 do not think il will make any diff
ference There should be no connec-
tiCn between the two actions. 1t is
always a guess as to what the commits
sion will do
Attitude on OifferentiaI.
Mt Delano said that the failure to
increase rates on the rail-and-lake
route between Buffalo and Chicago
would deter the roads from taking ad-
vantage of the per cent increase al
lowed in the Central Freight associa-
ton territory.
"None OF the roads will care to in
crease the present differential between
the two routes" he said. He also call
ed attention to the fact that the min
erals excluded from the advance fur
nish more than 50 per cent of the ton
mage between Buffalo and Chicago.
About the only feature of the de-
cision that is at all satisfactory is the
mere recognition of the fact that the
railroads need some relief, and l be-
ieve that was brought out in various
ways"
Officials of the Pullman Car company
declined to comment upon the section
IF the decision which asserts that
sleeping cars receive too great a share
IF passenger revenue. Silence was
displayed by representatives of the
Armour Car company and other pri-
rate car lines.
Has Fullest Control.
THE question of allowances made |
" railroads to private car companies |
$ one over which the commission has |
ullest control" said one official 1.-THE |
ates are subject to regulation, and |
very effort of the roads TO reduce |
hose allowances has been suspended
y the interstate commission, as we'll
s by every state commission which
as authority TO act. Hearings upon
very state in the central district, and
here seems to be nothing standing
etween the railroads and increased
evenue from private car lines except
he orders of the interstate commerce
1t Is also worthy of note
hat in each case where private car
ates have been before the comm's-
ion TO reductions have been allow
d."
An official of the Illinois Central
abroad said that he was unable to
ae where that road and others whose
eight hauls were north and south
ould benefit at all from the decision.
81 do not see where the Illinois Cen
ais freight income will be increased
, any appreciate extent" he said
The exclusion of coal and similar
Iinerals from the advance cuts US out
; even the benefits which the trunk
mes operating east and west between
hicago and the seaboard will get"
See Greater Returns.
Traffic officials of the Pennsylvania
nd New York Central lines maintain
| that the exclusion of minerals from
la advance Will do much to nullify
lie benefits. but admit that their line !
i'll receive greater returns than any t
the others.
The suggestion Of the commission
lat increases be made in passenger [
ties caused considerable comment.
How can we?" was the usual re- |
ark I'm most of the states the pas ?
niger tariff is fixed by the state leg
lature and the railroads have little =
do with it,"
Giss of Roads Ruling. y
The railroad rate decision contains
q following findings:
The revenue Of eastern railroads are
adequate and their financial condi- O
IN should be improved with the as 2
stance of the commission. Railroads C
Central Freight association terri a
~ would have earned $4,000, 900 p
ore in 1918 had their rates been as
4. E - 4