The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-03

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East Of These Points Advance
Is Denied.
Washington. Aug. 8.-F1ve per cent
increases in freight rates between Buff
falo and Pittsburgh and the lfissis-
sippi river have been granted BY the
interstate commerce coE lission :
case. All increases east Of Pittsburgh
and Buffalo were denied.
No increases were granted on Lake
and Rail rates
All class rates within the central
freight association territory were adj
vanced fivs per cent Commodity
rates got = like advance excepting
coal. coke. rick. tile. clay. starch.
cement. iron. ore. and plaster.
Commissioners NcChord and Dam
iels at the last moment gave . dissent
ing opinion.
The rates are expected to increase
the incomes Of the railroad approx
mately ono and one-half per cent.
All the principal east and west sys-
TENS will bel Mt by the increases ~
their lines traverse the territory at
fected.
The commodities upon which no
advance were allowed compose APP
proximately - per cent Of the total
volume Of trafflc in the central terri-
tory.
The commission held the income OF
the railroads was smaller than IL de-
manded in public interest but that No
showing had been made w1franting .
general increase in rates.
The commission suggested advances
in passenger fares ana elimination OF
costly ftee service to- shippers and
practically all free passes. and devei-
opment of greater efnctency IN per-
Condemning what It characterised
as q propaganda to influence it, deca>
sion, the commission said.
There can be no doubt that clamor
and odtcry have tended to ntsaead the
public and have seriously aggravateq
the present commercial depression"
Commissioner McChotd held no diff
ference should have been made be-
tween the territories east and west OF
Pittsburg ana Buffalo Commissioners
Daniels held q Ave per cent increase
should 10 sesn e Er ssss de- generally. IL
The railroads which applied for the
interstate commerce commissions per-
mission to raise their freight rates
were the So lines in the territory east
Ohio and Potomac rivers. The In
creased asked Was per cent. just half
the increase which these Same rail-
roads tried to get approval OF In 1912
It was deemed that public sentiment
desired q prompt decision Of the new
application, and the interstate coma
merce commission Immediately insti@
tuted hearings. at which President Will
lard Of the Baltimore 4 Ohio: Presi-
George Stewart Patterson. gq4eral
counsel Of the Pennsylvania, and other
prominent railroad officials Gavesteett-
mony Louis d. BrAndeis OF Boston
representing tho commission ana the
shippers, was one OF the leading couny
sci in opposition.
The contention of the railroad man.
ayers was that in the last three yearp
the railroads had spent 100000. oo@
in new Ct pital, but that in 1919 tho
earnings were $1e.000.000 less than id
1912; that the greatest increases id
railroad expenses had come about by
higher wages, taxes and new invest
ment in the properties: that condi-
tions were such that the New York
Central had since September. 1919,
been forced to lay on $4,000 mon; and
It was strongly intimatod by some
witnesses that unless the situation
were relieved the railroads might have
to accept government ownership -
the only alternative.
The Other Side.
The opposing contentious were in ef-
feet that the railroads were constants
~ enjoying higher revenues; that they
spent more ON improvements last year
than any other year in history; that
one terminal alone. built 1t . cost Of
l$108.000.e90 would have built an en-
tire railroad from New York to Chi
cago." ana, above all. that the froo
eervlces which the railroads performed
for large industrial concerns, would;
II paid Tor, net the railroads approx3-
mately. 100000 = year. Mr.. Bran
oets declared that "a sum approaching
xI0o.OO0.00 year II easily within the
railroads grasp II methods Of con-
serving revenues which are being euR-
ee0tod are adopted"
The greatest opposition from ship
psrs came from fhoss interested In coal
and petroleum, and It was CHARGED BY
1aoepenoent reflnefs that the Increased
freight rates would benefit the stand
ara OH company at the expense Of the
independent concerns.
Various attempts were made 70 rem
resent President Wilson a. being n
| favor OF the increase but he tc,c1r th~
stand that the case was before = n,,s =.
judicial body. and NO word of the nres-
dents attitude was Officially sfven os,t
tde did, however. express the view ~
the case Should be determined without
any unnecessary delay
| CLOUDY AND WARM,
Temperatures Near or Above Norm.I