Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-13
PEA falls.
COMMERCE COMMISSION WILL
NOT GRANT DESIRED PER
CENT INCREASE.
MAY RAISE RATES ON FEW
COMMODITIES OR CLASSES
Information Of Reliable Character
Comes to Iowa From Washington
Fight Started by Hawkeys State and
Prosecuted Almost Alone by Com
missioner Thorns.
Special to rimes-Republican.


Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines. June o13.-Ea stern rail-
RAIDS will not get a per cent advance
in freight rates. They may be per-
mitted to raise rates on some COM
modities or in some classes. but they
will DE refused their long cherished
horizontal raise which was planned to
net them millions.
This is the substance of informa-
ton Of reliable character which comes
from Washington, where the interstate
commerce commission is sitting in de-
liberation over the demand Of the east
ern railroads for permission to make a
is per cent horizontal increase. The
case was commenced about year ago.
Taking of testimony was finished two
or three months ago. Arguments were
concluded last month. The whole case.
in all it's phases and it includes a great
many is now In the hands of the COM
mission. Commissioners Harlan is writ
ing the opinion.
One Big Question Left.
1t was announced, with seeming au :
thority. Just as the arguments were
concluded May 4, that the commission
had agreed at once to an advance
amounting to per cent. Not so. Then
it was announced later that a dis
agreement was found and a majority
were willing to grant the advance
asked, or about that. But 1t didn't
happen. Then somebody told 1t at
Washington that next Monday the de-
cision was going to be made, but a
later dispatch, says that the date OF
announcement IL not certain.
There is but one big question left In
the case for Observation-Disclosures or not
the demand for the 5 per cent raise is
to be agreed to. The railroad prest-
dents said they need 1t, must have 1t,
can not get along any way without 1t.
and are stalking their all on the show
| ing they made for need Of more rev.
enue and that a raise in rates is the
! one thing they need to get the rev.
enue.
FIGHT Started in lows.
More than usual interest attaches ia
| the case because Of the fact that 1t was
at meeting in the state, house here
year ago that decision was reached
| that eight western railroad commits
sions should combine toNsee to 1t tina,
| there was made before the interstate
commission, on behalf Of the American
| people and especially those Of the mid
land country. proper showing as tc
| the sufficiency Of the claim Of the rail-
| road presidents. It was these eigh1
commissions that backed CHffore
/ Thorne in preparation OF a mass q
testimony to show the real condition
!! Of the railroads and to analyze in full
the arguments for the advance.
Mr.. Thorne, for and on behalf u
! western consumers and shippers, has
staked everything on the exact con
verse Of the claim Of the railroad pres
! idents. They say they must have tht
per cent raise; he showed that they
do not need it and can get along splen-
| didly without this added burden or
shippers and consumers.
| Some time very soon 1t is expected
| the commission will say who is righ'
in the matter
Dramatic Situation Arises.
It will be recalled that dramatic
! situation arose at the conclusion O.
! the hearing and arguments to the com
! mission. 1t was a difference between
Louis D. Brandeis and Mr.. Thorne
i which compelled the latter to file
short supplementary printed argumen
denouncing and disputing the former!
startling admission of the fairness o
the entire or main claim OF the railroad
presidents. Mr.. Brandeis has beer
employed by the interstate commits
sion because in the past he had mad
| a special study Of certain economics
in the railroad business which tn
commission desired to have presented
in full as bearing on the question o
revenues He devoted himself, durinl
the hearing. to that phase of the ques
ton.
Mr.. Thorne. on the other hand, de
voted himself to the sole question o
the need of 8 per cent raise In rate
as means of financing the railroads
The two men agreed fully up to tn
point of the need Of greater revenue t
be derived from freight charges. MI
Thorne was in agreement with Nj
Brandeis in regard to the economic
that might be practiced by the roads t
lessen their expenses and the cutting Of
Of certain free service, and that i
what is known as the central freigt
territory an inquiry should be mad
'
switching charges should be investi
gated. But Mr.. Brandeis. in a closin
argument, admitted the need Of NOR
revenue from freights and this Nj
Thorne combatted with all his might.
To Restate Position.
Some time ago the interstate com
merce commission held illegal the rail
roal practice of allowances" to grea
industrial plants owning and operatin
railroads to their establishments. Til
will reduce, 1t is estimated, the losse
to railroads in the east by SIS, 000.0 90
1t is. expected that the commissio
will. in the decision soon to Hbe ren
dered, restate and reiterate5 It's pos
ton on this question. and designa;
that before the railroade can prpperl
ask for greater revenues they must re
/ wise their accounting ,systSnns fand pt
their schedules on 9 scientific bash