The sun., 1914-09-12
Frederick d. Underwood As
scrts Commission Raised an
Artificial Issue.
SHIPPERS BURDEN SMALL
Time to Use Telescope and Not
Microscope, Mr.. Trumbull
Told President.

rreOerlCK IL. UNDERWOOD, pretlueTt OF
the Erie Railroad Company. In speaking
yesterday OF the refusal of the Interstate
Commerce Commission 10 grant the de-
sired 8 per cent. increase In freight rates
petitioned for by the fifty-two Eastern
railroads. said tho commission had failed
to grasp the most essential feature and
had raised an issue which is artificial.
He asserted tho commission had looked
at the s5o.ooo.ooo which the railroads
would gain by the increase and not at
what the country would gain by II.
THE country will not start forward
and things will not improve" he said.
until the railroads are prosperous. They
are the second largest industry OF the
country and you cannot cripple them and
hinder their purchasing power without
vitality Affecting all the interests In the
country. The railroads are the greatest
spenders In the country. The farming
industry may be the greatest OF all the
Industries, but the farmer does not spend
all he makes as do the railroads.
THE commission muffed the ball. The
freight rate question was never a real
issue. 1t was artificial. and became one
by cultivation. The burden OF an In
creased freight would not have been fel,
by any one. 1t would be like paying
taxes for a pension fund so small would
be the cost that people would not realise
that they were paying II.
Tho per cent tax on freight billi
Is mighty good thing. for IL makel
every railroad man Government agent
| and collector. 1t will put US In the posi-
tion OF heaping Goals OF fire"
Frank Trumbull. chairman Of the board
| N Hirarfnra nf ba Cbsaa La In
| consented yesterday to discuss the con
ference recently held at Washington be
tween railroad heads and President vii
| son. He said:
I'VE told the President this question Of
| the financial position OF all the CARRIER
| of the country was a matter that ex
tended far beyond the limits OF the East
ern rate case. and that the problems in
volved were In many cases beyond tn,
Jurisdiction Of the Interstate Commerc'
| Commission.
| I'VE called attention to tho erect o
| legislation in the forty-eight States al
| individuals and also to certain statute.
OF Congress and emphasized the fact tina
the commission had no control over man!
of the conditions caused by such legis
lation. except in some instances to maxi
| the laws effective. We told the Presiden
the time has come to use a telescope ant
not a microscope"
The specific points on which Mr.. Trum
| bull dwelt in his talk with the President
mentioning them as examples of railroad
problems beyond tho control of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, were as fol
| lows:
| Safety appliances hours OF service
employees liability. full crew laws, grad
| crossings, offices in States. Federal an,
State valuation. damage claims. characte
and extent OF train service, issuance o
stocks and bonds. and reduction by State
of passenger and freight rates.
Seth Low, president OF the Chamber o
Commerce OF the State OF New York. ha
sent the following letter TO President Wh
| son:
| II have read with a sense OF thankful
ness your letter addressed to Fran
Trumbull as chairman OF the committee O
railroad presidents. The importance o
keeping railroad securities sound an
maintaining the credit OF the railroads 4
this wcyldwide emergency Is so vital I
the well being of everybody that you
prompt and hearty recognition Of II
| of its,If OF immense value.
"I am entirely confident that the bNo1
ness world will cooperate to this end VII
all the more courage because II know
that in so doing II will be cooperatin
| with you"