Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-14
blo INTERESTS ARRAYED IN THE.
FORTHCOMING FREIGHT =
RATE FIGHT.
DEFENSIVE SIDE INCLUDES
INTERESTS OF GREAT FORCE
Commerce Commission Rules That Only
New Matter May Be Introduced at
Second Hearing on Application Of
Roads For Per Cent Increase in
Rates.
Special to Times Republican.


Des Moines, Oct. 14-When the in
terstate commerce commission calls for
a showdown on the reopened per
cent rate case next Monday in Wash
ington, the opposing and contendig
forces will represent interests as
mighty as any ever before arrayed in
front of any judicial tribunal.
On the affirmative side will be the
representatives of all the American
railroads. capitalized for s15.-
600, 100000 dependent wholly up
on American business and enterprise,
backed by the representatives OF the
stock exchanges. and the brokers, and
the eastern or big bankers, and to some
extent by big business interests. also
having at least the sympathy and sup
port of President Wilson. the national
democratic administration in a politi-
cal way, and the approval of very many
leading metropolitan newspapers.
Defensive Side ForcefuI.
On the negative, or defensive, side
of the case there will be other great
forces. First will be the vast COM
munity Of ordinary business men. the
merchants. shippers. small manufac-
turers and the jobbing interest. Then
there will be the vast agricultural in
terests OF the country represented
largely by the stock shippers. the grain
dealers. the co-operatives. the dairy in
terests. etc. Officially there will be ar
rayed on this side the eight states that
have so often Joined in the fight for
fair rates for the people. the states
of the Mississippi and Missouri val
leys With these Is now Joined the in
ter-mountain states. More particular
u the commercial organizations of cit
les Of iowa and adjoining states will be
enlisted
The case is continuation of the
case started in 1910, re-opened last
year. and again re-opened now for a
rehearing on points that are of recent
origin Originally it was an applica-
ton for per cent raise on all classes
of freight in eastern territory Now it
is broadened TO be demand for a per
cent raise for all the American rail-
roads on everything.
Only New Matter Received
Fly order Of the interstate commerce
commission the only matter to be pre-
sented is that which was not present
ed before at the general hearing which
was one of the completest ever given any
complaint. Ostensib1y it is TO be a
special appeal for an increase in rates
because Of conditions that have de-
veloped Incident to the war in Europe.
There IS not likely to be any new evil
dence produced but rather a continu-
ance OF investigation into the strictly
financial side of the railroad business.
especially as related to the present con-
flit,on Of the stocks and bonds. the in
.erest rates. the opportunity for float
ing new bonds. the necessity for re-
funding the taking up OF short time
notes. the disposition Of the surplus Of
the railroads the rate OF return on the
business now being done. and other
matters relating far more to the fnanc-
Ing of the roads than to their opera
ton.
Clifford Thorne. who so ably repre-
sented the western people at the pre-
vious hearing. will again represent the
various active interests opposing the
rate raise.
ce-operatives Fight Raise.
The following are the resolutions
adopted by the National Council of
Farmers Cooperative association at
Omaha. which state very clearly the
basis of the opposition to the rate
raise:
THE railroads are again attempting
u force a general advance, in freight
rates thruout the United States. If this
is granted the grain industry will he
one upon which this tax burden will
fall Proposed advances III our thru