Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-09

completed, ana the commission might
be wholly justified in taxing immedi-
ate steps for'the relief Of such situ-
alton.
ION the other hand. II We md fair
analysis shows that the trend IL In
exactly the opposite direction; If we
find that they had more money to
spend IN maintaining and Improving
their properties than ever before: II
we ind that their net revenues, over
and above all costs ;of labor and sup
plies and other Operating expenses,
have been greater during recent years
than ever before In this history; then
there cannot be the slightest excuse
for holding their present revenues in
adequate until IT Is shown that even
these revenueA which are greater than
ever before, ARE still insufficient to
yield a reasonable return upon the fair
value Of their properties"
cemparissn Prove Nothing.
Comparing statistics Of one year
with another proves nothing. In 1911
the net revenues were lest than in 1910
and in 1912 still less. Comparing one
year with another . person might con-
iclude net revenues are, on the down
ward trend: but the faflacy of any
such superficial conductors ID demon
ystrated by tho fact that last year, in
1913, their net revenues were greatest
In their entire history, ssith only one
exception. The only fair method Is to
consider the trend over an extended
period Of time. Distributing the result
into groups Of years. It 10 also fair to
consider the railways Of the entire
country rather than sections sepa-
fately. The American railways con-
menced their agitation for higher
freight rates In 1910; OF results of in
vestigation Of their own reports. Mr..
Thorne shows In the exhibits he has
now ready:
"The net revenues Of American rail-
ways-above the cost OF labor, sup
plies, and all other operating expenses.
and above taxes-during the four year
period 1910. 1911, 1872 ana 1913. were
higher than for any other four-year
period. There net revenues during each
Of these four years were greater than
during any other year in their whole
history. The tendency OF Increasing
revenues has been constant ever since
the organization of the interstate COM
merce commission.
"The net revenues Of American rail-
ways for the five-year period ending
with 1894. were approximately per
cent greater than in 1890; the increase
during the next five-year- period was
per cent; the increase in the next
five-year period was s. per cent over
1890; the next increase was III per
cent; in 1910 this increase over 1890
was $50 per cent: in 1911 it was 1873
per cent; in 1912 it was 124 per cent;
and in 1918 It vas -? ner cent.
1.-THE net revenuese Of American
railways-above all costs of labor. sup
plies and all other expenses Of opera
ton, and above taxes-in 1913 were
S400, 600, 900 greater than in 1898; the
increase in net revenues during the
past fifteen years has been more than
100 per cent"
Revenues Higher in East.
Turning now to the railways Of the
eastern district, where the rate adj
vance is just now being demanded, Mr..
Thorne shows by his carefully COM
piled tables, giving authorities in each
instance, that the net revenues there
have been higher during the four-yea.
period Of the agitation for higher rates
than for any other four-year period.
that their net revenues during each
one of these four years was greater
than during any other year in their
whole history, and the tendency Of In
creasinE revenues there has been con-
slant as In the case Of all American
railways. The net revenues of the rail-
.,od.,t ~ INA. nm stern district in 1918