Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-21
Rate Increases.

OMAHA, Dec 2o--To the Editor Of The
Bee: Most of US are too busy settling
the European war to spend valuable time
about our own business, but there Is still
a limited number interested In unimpor-
tant matters like rate raises and street
car fares. These are concrete things near
at hand that ordinary mOrtals can grasp.
A part OF the Interstate Commerce CON-
mission has decided that the railroads
are in bad condition and must be allowed
to charge per cent extra on all freight
or go under. A minority OF the commits
sion say not. Now here's what we'd like
TO know,-what do they need the per
cent for? For a number OF years every
body who claimed to know anything
about II, said the railroads were paying
dividends on millions on millions Of water,
and all the agitation has been based on
this state OF affairs, which has never
been seriously disputed. So far as I have
ever seen In print. not a dollar OF the
water has been squeezed out A few
years ago the Lincoln Traction company
Of Lincoln. Neb. desired to increase a
certain fare and applied 70 the state
Railroad commission for permission. This
was granted. after a hearing, but the
brainiest member OF the commision made
a dissenting report IN which he showed.
and Il was not denied by anyone. that
after allowing good return on ali their
actual investment. the only way the
raise could be justified was by allowing
return on some millions OF dollars
that represented absolutely no investment.
Has the Interstate Commerce commission
done the same thing? r.
This isn't any idle question. Nobody
wants to hurt legitimate business, we're
all In the same boat, what hurts legiti-
mate business hurts capitalist and lab
orer and lawyer and doctor and editor
and school teacher ana cook. Railroads
and street car companies have a right to
a good return on Investments. but you're
never going 10 set People to believe they
need higher rates, no matter what state
and national railway commissioners may
do, SO long as corporations fight TO the
last ditch any effort toward finding out
what the real value Of their properties
IT, The street railway company OF
Omaha comes into court and alleges that
II costs 30 much 70 haul each passenger,
but defiantly refuse TO let anyone know
upon what basis It figures cost. We do
know that Il figures. somehow. an In
come ON some si0.O0oOoo OF u2.O0o.OOO Of
common stock. or at least the agent for
the sale Of its bonds 90 sdvertises. but
Il refuses 10 make any showing and in
spite OF laws looking 10 that end, no
showing has been made.
What 10 going to be the resnlt2 Are
We going % set down TO a business
basis. or are We going 70 return 10 the
old-tlrne saturnalia OF highway robbery
by franchised corporations with those
who know. sandbaEsed into silence by
the cry Of hard times? II seems 10 me
that now. II ever. Is the time 10 fight
this out II there has been misrepre-
aentAtion on the part Of newspaper and
magazine writers. let's know Il and quit
n they nave told the truth. let's not
submit TO robbery amy longer. but let's
know waat Il the truth. Any other
course means simply = repetition Of the
farce. II we lat the corporations get
away with their defence. simply be-
cause business n not good. ven just have
O. do Il all over again. and business viii
80 up and down like . giant see-saw.