Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-04
INCREASED RAIL RATES
UPHELD BY SPEAKERS
Railroad Men and Public Officials
Guests of Henry CASA
way Davis.
President Daniel Willard Of B. & o.
Says Carriers Welcome ]. C. C.
Investigations.

That the . per cent increase in rates
which the railroads OF the east have
asked the interstate commerce commits
sion to sanction Is just equitable and
much needed increase was the keynote of
number OF addresses made by prorni
nent railroad men and other guests at a
dinner given last night by former Senator
Henry Gassaway Davis at the home OF
his daughter, Mrs. Stephen 3. Elkins
1926 X street northwest
Judge Alton L. Parker, who was Mr..
Davis running mate on the democratic
ticket in 1904, in brief speech declared
that % per cent Of the press OF the coun-
try today favored the per cent increase
in rates asked by the railroads, whereas,
he said, few years ago poll Of the
newspapers showed that only about ~
per cent favored the increase. The senti-
ment of press and public Judge Parker
held. had changed greatly In the past few
Years. and the hostility that at that time
marked the general attitude OF the coun-
try whenever the railroads proposed to
increase rates had largely vanished.
Tribute to Willard.
The first speaker of the evening was
President Daniel Willard Of the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad who was char
acterized In Mr.. Davis introduction as "a
great railroad genius and q great con-
structive force in the railroad world
Mr.. Willard declared that the railroads
OF the country welcome any investigation
the interstate commerce commission may
desire to make into their operations and
methods. He laid stress upon the conten-
ton that the Interstate commerce COM
mission should grant the rate increase
pending its inquiry, because the trans-nr-
tional revenues to meet the improvements
and betterments which the American
shipping public Is demanding Of the car
riers.
fed that the interstate commerce con-
mission will grant the rate increase when
all the needs OF the carriers are consid-
cred. The true condition Of the transpor-
tation lines. together with the demands Of
improvements by the public, he said, 10
strong enough to justify the claims of the
railroads for the increase in rates.
Gross Earnings Larger.
1T is true that the gross earnings Of
the railroads are greater today" Mr.. Will
lard continued, than they havo ever been,
but additional funds are needed for bet
terments which Will keep the traneporta-
ton lines busy for the next i've years"
Mr.. Willard a'so referred to the opinion
OF the interstate commerce commission
regarding industrial lines. in which It was
held by the commission that these Hines
We're used as an indirect means to give
rebates to big shippers. He declared that
me commission has known for years OF
the Industrial line conditions
Senator Owen, chairman of the Senate
committee on banking and currency.
spoke on the new banking law, asserting
that this law. when banking conditions
anau nave become adjusted to its opera
strngenctes. Representative Underwood.
Following Senator Owen. spoke briefly In
support OF the new tariff law which beara
nts meme Col. John C. Schoonmaker OF
.he Flttsogrgh and Lake Erie. who Is q
veteran OF the civil war. recounted some
% hts experiences while campaigning in
west Virginia Samuel Rea. president Of
me Pennsylvania lines, was the last
speaker. his remarks being euiogistic Of
former Senator Davis. both as a private
tho United States.
Guests at the Dinner.
Many Of the guests It last nights DIN
ass made the trip to washington In tnear
private csrs. leaving the city immediately
altar the dinner. The guests were,
Daniel Willard. president Baltimore and
Ch1o railroad: Samuel Rea. president
Pennsylvania railroad: A. H. Smith.
president New York Central railroad: ].
c. Subcommittee. president Pittsburgh
and Lake Erie railroad: F. D. Under
wood. president Erie railroad: George ".
Stevens. president Chesapeake and Ohio
railway: L. e johnson. president Nor.
folk and western railway: W. H. White.
president Neutrality-suspicious. railway:
NJ Fitzgerald. president Western
Maryland railway: N: c. Kennedy. presi-
dent Cumberland Valley railroad: W. W.
Atteroury, Vice president Pennsylvania
railroad: A. W. Thompson. VICE president
Baltimore and Ohio railroad: Arthur
Lee, vice president Coal and Coke rail.
way: George 2. Randolph. vice president
baltimore and Ohio railroad: Senator
James A. o'Gorman Of New York. sena-
tor Robert L. Owen OF Oklahoma. Repre-.
sentative Oscar W. Underwood, Solicitor
General John W. Davis. Alton B. Parker,
=; I. kerens,. G. c. Glover. president
riggs National Bank: c. J. Bell, presi-
dent American Security and Trust Conn
pany; W. d. Hoover, president National
savings and Trust Company, and Charles
II. Grasty, Baltimore