Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-18
Lines East of Mississippi Al
lowed Approximately 5
Per Cent More.
BULK OF THE TRAFFIC
MADE AN EXCEPTION
Estimated That I. C. C. Decision
Will Enlarge Revenues About
$4,000, 600 Annually.


interstate commerce commission in a
divided opinion, excepting upon Ger
tain heavy commodities, which COM
prise large bulk of the traffic. Com
missioners Harlan and Clements dis
scented from the opinion.
The increases will further apply to
the railroads west of Buffalo and Pitts
= burgh, which were graned partial ad-
vances in the decision of last August,
which denied them altogether to the
roads east of those points. 1t is esti-
mated the advanced rates will increase
the annual income of the roads about
s3O,0O0.00o.
Acts on Showing of Roads.
The commission made it's decision
upon the showing of the roads that in
addition to conditions from which they
previously asked relief they now are
Of the war in Europe.
The carriers are permitted to make
the applied-for advances in rates ex-
cept the rail-lake-and-rail, lake-and-
rail and rail-and-lake traffic; rates on
bituminous coal and coke; rates on an
thracite coal and iron ores, and rates
the commission.
Granted Further FavorS.
After further consideration the COM
mission permits advances to be made
also on cement, starch, brick. tile, clay
and plaster. On these commodities no
advances were permitted by the de-
cision of August 1.
acation territory and territory south
of the Potomac and Ohio and east of
the Mississippi may be increased not to
exceed 5 per cent.
Interstate rates to and from New
England also may be increased not to
exceed per cent.
While present existing differentia1s
among various Atlantic ports are pre-
served, the rates between any two OF
them also may be increased 5 per
cent.
Text Of the Decision.
The decision says:
while we differ as to the relative
Importance to be attached to the vari-
Gus considerations presented. we agree
in the conclusion that, by virtue of the
conditions obtaining at present, it is
be supplemented by increases through
out official classification territory.
Whatever the consequences of the war
may prove to be, we must recognize
the fact that 1t exists, the fact that it
is a calamity without precedent and
the fact that by it the commerce of the
world has been disarranged and thrown
into confusion.
he faf "a ,CY,n stQf ra fun
damental and Indispensable agencies in
our industrial life and for the common
veal should be kept abreast of public
requirements
Additional Revenue Sources.
The original report, besides approv-
ing a rate increase in central freight
association territory, suggested ten
sources of additional revenue for all
carriers throughout official classifica-
ton territory; the present report, rec
ognizing the existence of a new situa-
,ion since July %. acquiesces in ter
ritorial extension of the relief granted
TO the Central Freight Association lines
by permitting the carriers to file
tariffs providing, with certain excep-
tfons specified herein, for horizontal
rate increases in official classification
territory.
1t is expected that the constructive
work suggested in the original report
for the purpose of conserving and
augmenting the net revenues of the
carriers generally win be carried for
ward without interruption.
Carriers will be required to keep
an account of the additions to their
revenues from increases in rates sub
seauent to July 2s. 1914, and from
thereon to the commission at the end
Of twelve and twenty-four months. re-
spective1y."
Exception Set Forth.
The exceptions from the proposed in
crease of rates are stated in the deci-
Eion as follows:
-1-Rail-lakeand lake-and- d-rail,
and raiLand lake rates. 1t is shown
on the record that since the rail car
. riers acquired ownership and control of
,he lake lines successive increases have
been made in the rates via lake tending
% lessen the differences between them
and the all-rail rates.
- Rates on bituminous coal and
coke Not long since these rates were
Investigated and maximum rates were
prescribed by the commission. The
key rates upon bituminous coal, the
rate from the Pittsburgh district to
youngstown and the rate on lake
cargo coal to Ashtabula have been
fixed in the light of the various fac
tors which enter into the transporta-
ton of such coal
Rates Remunerative.
The prevailing rates are remuner-
ative and the financial condition of the
principal bituminous coal carriers is
in marked contrast with that of many
of the other carriers in official ciassi-
dcation territory.
Twice in the nos distant past the
rates on bituminous coal have been in
creased cents a ton. and would seen
now to be as high may fairly be al
Il