The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-06-18
ROADS WIN AND
LOSE RATE CASE
Flat Raise Denied, But Some
Increases Granted.
| TO S PER CENT IS GIVEN
Interstate Commero Commission VIII
Charge Const Tracy to Create
Sentiment for ProposaI--Re-
port Ready In q Month.

Washington, June 18.-The salien,
points OF the decision OF the interstate
commerce commission on the petition
OF the railroads OF the eastern division
of the country for five per cent In
crease In rates are as follows.
/. The commission will deny the ap
plication for a fiat increase OF five per
cent.
2. However, II will grant increases
ranging from one to five per cent and
perhaps higher on commodities now
transported below cost.
3. II will decline to make advances
on certain other commodities.
4. The public will be emphatically
warned that the increases ordered do
not Justify any advance In the prices
Of food or other necessities.
5. The railroads Will be denounced
for engaging In gigantic conspiracy
to create a public sentiment in favor
Of tho 1--WE per cent Increase and
against the commission.
The task of making equitable rates
upon the thousand upon thousand com
modities ~ a tremendous one, and is
responsible for the delay Of the com
mission In fling It's decision. Frequent
ly change In the rate for the trans
portation of one commodity affects the
rates upon hundreds OF others.
Report Ready In Month.
The commission has completed part
Of the work But vast amount re-
mains to be done. It is not believed
the commission will be able to report
much before month.
The questions which the commission
was forced to consider In connection
with the rate matter were the follow
ing;
DO the railroads need more money
In order to perform the duties of com
mon carriers
Should II be found that they need
more money, Is It because of made
quate rates or inefficient management
or because of discrimination IN the
interest of big shippers and favored
localities?
The first question the commission
will answer partially In the aiiirma-
tive.
The second question will be an
swered I'm this fashion:
Some rates are too low. There is no
doulb OF inefficient and extravagant
management.
The third question will be a subject
Of continued investigation by the com
mission.
The commission rejected some time
ago the proposal for general increase
IN rates of 1--WE per cent. 1t was con
sidered that this would be unfair, be-
cause some Of the railroads in the dis
trict affected do not need the advance.
$t8,oOo,oOo Saved to Roads.
For example. as a result Of an inyes-
tlgation and an order issued az a re-
suit thereof by the commission, some
thing like SlS.000.000 was saved an
nually to the oalcarrying railroads Of
West Virginia, Obviously these roads
do not need any advance In rates.
Then, again, II tho average OF five
per cent were granted, the Increase
would be less than five per cent in
many cases and more than that in
others, running AZ high IA so and 60
per cent.
Moreover, the commission realized
that If n fiat Increase In rates were
given to the eastern roads, the car
riera of the North, West and South
would demand the same concession.
The effect would be TO impose upon
the country heavy burden and to
cause a general advance In prices on
necessities Of life. The commission
would feel derelict In its duty If II
were to authorize anything OF the kind
especially In view of the fact that
some Of the railroads do not need an
Increase upon certain kinds OF freight
which they now transport at a big
profit
Remove Monkey Wrench.
so after careful deliberation with
the interests OF the whole country con.
sidered, the commission decided to
make an increase upon rates for given
commodities. by It's action 1t IL salts.
fed II will remove from the machinery
OF business the monkey wrench which
It holds was thrown into the wheels
by big business
The advances TO be made on the
commodities will be such as to remove
all CAUSE for complaint on the part OF
the railroads that they are being
driven TO the wall by the harsh atti
tudo OF the commission. They will
not have as the excuse for a policy o!
retrenchment the claim that they are
being ground down by the commission
On the other hand, the public will
| not be defrauded. The commission. In
/ its decision, will make absolutely clear
! the fact that the increase in rates does
not Justify any raise In prices II the
grocer, tho butcher and the candle
stick maker seek to boost prices or
| the ground that they have to pay more
! for the transportation OF the goods
! they sell, the public will know tina,
their action Is absolutely without justi
| hcation.
Warn Against Price Raise.
The commission will utter an earn
First Boating Accident at Superior
| Snnerinr Mary Nolan aged 20