The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-10-30
FREIGHT RATE
y RAISE DENIED
TO RAILROADS
WANTED TO CONTINUE LOWER
RATES TO MORE DISTANT
POINTS.
SHIPMENTS TO JACKSON
AND MERIDIAN INVOLVED
eermit Few Violations of Iona and
short Haul Provisions, Notably Pen.
saeola-Eastern Trunk Lines Want
Per Cent Increase Also--commis-
sion Advises Railroads to Brsak or
F-- -"
With Wall Street Entirely.
by Associated Press.)

Washington, Oct 9O.-The Inter
state Commerce Commission today
denied the petition of the railroads to
continue lower rates to more distant
< points than to intermediate points on
both class and commodity shipments
from eastern and northern cities to
many cities in the South including
Meridian and Jackson, Miss The rail
roads are permitted to continue rates
which involve violations of the long
and short haul provisions in some in
stances, including Pensacola.
Three Reasons for Denial.
The railroads request was denied
for these reasons:
First--That there is no law under
which the commission can grant an
increase in rates in order to obtain a
psychological effect, either in the
business world or the investment
world
Second That the carriers have
shown only that there has been a de-
cline in business since the war started
and there is no law which empowers
the commission to make up for that
\ decline by ordering their customers to
pay more for future services.
Third--That the carriers have not
shown to the commissions satisfaction
that they accepted in good faith the
decision in the per cent case handed
down Oh August 1 last.
Divorce Wall Street. w.
In deciding the present case the com
mission. it is declared advised the rail
roads TO break off relations with Wall
Street entirely.
Admits Need Of U. S. Control.
Members of the interstate commerce
commission today gave consideration
to the suggestion of e, P Ripley pres
ident of the Santa Fe, for government
assistance. They were frank to adml'
that the point has been reached, as Mr
Riplev said, where government IN
auence has to increase or decrease.
With Mr. Ripleys suggestion 10
economies. the commissioners were IN
NJ c,;red to agree. They did not agree
with his proposition to place a repre-
sentative Of the government on ran
road boards, however, under the con
ditions ly suggested.
1t was pointed out that unoer MI
Ripley's plan this government repre-
sentative would of necessity be iorce'
TO veto every proposition with "hic'
he was not wholly in accord OF els
subject himself to censure' lhasmu''
as he would be given no construc'iV
powers whatsoever ~
The government representative
would he in a position of doubtful oer
"s. - the railroads and of great en-
Sar-oss,,ent to himself, with only
nato mower such as suggested by MI
Ripley. v
The antitrust laws, it was poin'e
ont are based on the theory OF UNI,
stricted competition There is no u
ro.tricted competition in the raiiro'
nns;ness because a great portion
- railroads business is monol
n IL II is in this monopoly that prom
are now made, while on the conipe. ..
live business the roads oi'en Tvs
money. hoort;e,
The commission favors the hear.ie'
co-operation not only between ,nu m
.,a,.I carriers, but between carrie. :.
shippers, and the government ior =
benefit Of all three.