Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-18
PROSPERITY AHEAD
BY RATE DECISION

rate case. The additional revenue which
! Will come from the freight Increase, they
said, would destroy the argument Of the
railroads for the passenger Increase
thnt added income was essential TO their
continued prosp0rity.
Railroad OFFICIALS however, we're not In.
ouned TO grant the commuters any basis
Tor hope that the Increases would be af-
fected In the least by the freight ruling.
1t was generally claimed that the rail-
roads now intend TO operate the two de-
partments Independently, and that the in
oreases. therefore, cannot be considered
a. related.
NO HOPE FOR COMMUTERS.
The granting Of the per cent. freight
Increase will have absolutely no efrect
upon the passenger Increase" declared
George w. Boyd general passenger traf-
nc manager Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company. I'VE want to establish
the two departments Of our road on an
Independent basis, and to do this we
need the passenger increase as much as
the freight Increase"
Theodore II. Voorhees,, president OF the
Philadelphia and Reading Railway Com
pany, would make no comment whatever
on this situation.
INDUSTRIES WILL PROFIT.
PENNSYLVANIA industries will profit more
than those OF any other State by the s
per cent. increase. In the opinion OF
Director George w. Norris, of the De-
partment Of wharves, Docks and Fer
rles, The Director, who was banker
before his municipal appointment. ex-
pressed the opinion that the consumer
will never see the increase and that II |
will not mean advance In prices.
THE industries that have been most |
depressed" said the director, ARE those
whose customers are largely the railroad
companies, and this Increase therefore |
will help those industries that sell to |
the railroads The increase will probably |
do more good to Pennsylvania than any |
other state. because this State is the lead
er In such goods as rails, cars engines |
bolts and nuts. With the increase Of per
cent. the railroads will have more money |
to buy these commodities"
THE freight rate increase allowed by
the Interstate Commerce Commission will |
have a beneficial effect generally on ali |
the business interests of the country"
said n. B. Kelly, secretary OF the Cham
Der Of Commerce.
"The action of the Commerce Commits.
sion will result In a much more comfort
said. 'It will be an induoement 10 do
business and an incentive to increassd
activity, because business men and manu-
fRcturers realize that the railroads will
place orders for supplies and new equip
ment that they have been holding UP
while the case was pending. Tho effect
Of the rate increase will not be limited
TO the railroads. I think we can look
for general Improvement in business
conditions and a new awakening"
II am glad for any decision that would
bring prosperity to the people OF Penn
sylvania," was the only comment of
Governor-elect Martin G.. Brumbaugh,
when told OF the freight increase de-
cison.
Nathan T. Folwel president OF the
Club, said;
when the railroads are prosperous,
the country Is prosperous. II the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. after it's in
yestigation, found that the railroad
needed tho increase, believe they should
have It. The stocks and bonds OF the
railroads are owned by the people
throughout the country, and feel that
with increased revenues the railroads
will begin improvements. and that busi-
ness generally will become better as the
result OF the decision"
VIEWS OF DEALERS.
ohicIals of the George B. Newton Coal
Company said the inclusion OF coal In the
ate advance would have meant the con-
sumner would have had to stand for the In
,Feased cost OF shipment from mine to
.ellar
Frank Kelley Philadelphia iron
lealer said
II know that the anthracite and coke
ates are already pretty high. and sup !
rose that Is the reason no increase was {
.llowed on shipping rate for those two
lasses. In the case OF Iron. however. I \
annot assign any excuse for the ex- [
mption. Rates for shipping iron are /
ower now than they have been In the I
ast. The rates are variable and just at /
resent very favorable" 7
Mr.. Kelley believed that there would Z
ave been only temporary consequences !
ven II the rates had been allowed for 1
oal and iron. "a few buyers. who have
rders placed now, would probably ask
hlppers 10 pay an increase" he said.
but beyond a temporary Inconvenience
do not think there would have been
ny effect Of increase in coal and iron
ates."
Commenting on the decision, William T.
'ilden, president OF the Union League !
aid;
'If this action. In conjunction with the c
Increase in passenger rates, reduces the ?
usiness OF the railroads In both branches y
/
ted? The easy movement OF people and
Is certainly more or less q
uTtailed by the decision, !
"As business man | have never asked | I
or received fayors from the railroads.
nd ] must take my chance along with
hs rest Of my competitors, which / am
erfeetly willing TO do
'It seems that the tendency Of the I
mes Is TO make II as hard as possible
DR. business man 10 be successful.
ant II to be distinctly understood, in
iaking this remark, that 1 have never a
Gen. am not now and do not expect to Il
ecome a millionaire"
''The per cent increase Is the best a
hing that could happen 10 the railroads p
nd 10 business generally all over the II
1untry," said an ohiclal OF the j. G. Brill F
ompany. car and truck builders a
1T VIII give the railroads an opportu- "
lty 10 catch up and win make business A
rosperous The railroads have been Al
aable 10 borrow money because they did ci
ot furnish good security, The increase
III give enough confidence 10 allow them v
foat any bonds they may require in ei
nancins their business o.
An increase IN general business will d
'llow, More equipment Will be needed by II
le railroads. The companies making the
iuipment Will require additional em-
oyss. who, with money 70 spend. viii
Many industries viii be beneated d. :