Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-06-18

some vases sweeping
Statement to Accom-
pany Decision.
he Chicago Herald, John Callan
o'Laughlin, Washington correspondent
or that paper declares he is in posi-
aon to announce the salient points OF
the Interstate Commerce commission
IN the petition of the eastern division
n freight rates. They are:
I. The commission will deny the
application for flat increase of 5
per cent.
2. However, il will grant in
creases ranoinq from to S per
cent and perhaps higher on COM
modities now transported below
8. It will decline to make ad-
vances on certain other commodi-
ties.
q. The public will, be emphatic
ally warned that the increases or
dered do not justify any advance
in the prices Of food and other
necessities.
S. The railroads will be de-
nounced for engaging in gigan-
tic consiparacy to create a public
sentiment in favor of the 5 per
cont increase and against tho
commission.
The task of making equitable rates
apon the 1000 commodities is tre-
mendous one. and is responsible for
che delay of the commission in filing
its decision. Frequently a change in
.he rate for the transportation of one
commodity affects the rates upon hun
dredS of others
Report Ready in Month.
The commission has completed part
Of the work. But vast amount re-
mains to be DONE 1t is not believed
the commission will be able to report
much before a month.
The questions which the commission
vas forced to consider in connection
ing:
Do the railroads need more
money in order to perform the
duties of common carriers? ~.
Should it be found that Trey
need more money. is it because of
inadequate rates or inefficient
management or because of dis
elimination in the interest of big
shippers and favored localities?
The first question the commission
will answer partially in the affirma
tive.
Tho second question will be answered
In this fashion:
Some rates are too low. There is no
doubt of inefficient and eXtravagant
management.
The third question will be a subject
of continued investigation by the
commission.
The commission rejected some time
ago the proposal for II general increase
in rates of 5 per cent. 1t was con-
@t,i 1>., C.,, I,<,
cause some of the railroads in the dis
trict affected do not need the advance.
$1e,00o,000 Saved to Roads.
For example. as result of an in
yestigation and an order issued as a
result thereof by the commission,
something like s1S.000.000 was saved
annually to the coal carrying railroads
of West Virginia. obviously these
roads do not need any advance in
rates.
Moreover the commission realized
that If a fiat increase in rates We're
given to the eastern roads, the carriers
of the north. west and south would
demand the same concession. The effect
would be to impose upon the country
n heavy burden and to cause a general
advance in prices on necessities of life
The commission would feel dereict In
its duty if it 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 o1
freight which they now transport at d
big profit.
Remove Monkey Wrench.
So after careful deiberation with the
interests of the whole country consid-
cred. the commission decided to make
an increase upon rates for given com
modities BY it's action it is satisfied il
will remove from the machinery o
business the monkey wrench which il
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 o
the railroads that they are being drive:
to the wall by the harsh attitude OF thu
commission. They will not have as th'
excuse for Il policy OF retrenchment th'
claim that they are being ground dowr
by the commission.
Nothing more clearly shows, in thu
view OF the commission, the condition
of the railroads, due to their own imam
cial skyrocketing than the results o
the investigation of the New York, New
Haven & Hartford railroad and the cx
animation of the affairs OF the Balti
more & Ohio.
President Willard. of the I3altimor
& Ohio. has been the principal spokes
man for the railroads. 1t appears fron
the facts elected by the commissio.
that his road has an interest bearini
debt of sI9000.000 and ar annual defci
of s2.000,O0o, which is not surprising il
view of what has been done to the roaG
1t is pointed out that some years ag
j. Pierpont Morgan & Co endeavcre
to rid themselves of the Cincinnati
Hamilton & Dayton and the Pere Mar
quette, with OBLIGATIONS aggregatin
s23.000o00 They sought to have i
bought by the Erie But T.. H. Harri
man was alive at the time and he re
fused To permit anything Of the kint
Then Morgan & Co. gave instruction
to the Baltimore K Ohio to take tn
property. They did SO and paid tn
Morgans a commission OF more tina
$4,000, 900.
This high finance it is asserted
accounts in part for the inability of TIL
Baltimore g. Ohio to pay expenses eve
upon the rates allowed.
There are two opera houses in Ant
werp. Belgium, subsidized By tn
municipality One produces opera i
E'ranch the other in Flemish and Ger