Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-08-27
SHIPPER SHOULD
Be VERY THANKFUL
Advance Copies Of Some Of the Sections
Of The Decision Have Been
Received.

TO the interstate commerce commas
ion for its action on what is known
as the five per cent increase case,
in which the III railroads in the
official classification territory
bounded by Canada and the Great
Lakes on the north, the Atlantic
ocean on the east the Mississippi
river on the west and by the Ohio
and Potomac river on the south
sought an increase in freight rates,
is shown by some Illuminating sec
tons of the commissioners report,
entered July 20, an advance copy Of
which has just been received here.
That a number of West Virginia
commercial organization which pass
ed resolution addressed to the inter-
state commission recommending the
request of the railroads were only
partly informed on the case and
that had they know its full mean
| ing, never would have approved also
/ il shown.
"The rates now proposed by the
carries, says the report ''are COM
modly spoken of as providing 5
per cent increase in freight charges.
AS matter of fact the increases
ranges from less than per cent on
some traffic to as high as so per
cent on certain short haul traffic.
One witness testified that they av-
erage slightly less than 5 per cent
but this is doubtful.
1.-THE tariff provide minimum
increase of 5 cents in all rates named
in cents per ton when less than
I$1,00 Although little reference to
this minimum advance is made of
record, its importance become OBJ
vious in view Of the fact that far
more than one half of all the tom
mage in this territory moves under
ton rates.
1.-THE result Of applying the 5
cent minimum is not five per cent
increase, but when that on rate is
less than 81 as many Of them are,
the increase is more than five per
cent. For example, a present rate
on sand OF Is cents per ton would
be raised to 20 cents under the pro-
posed tariff, an advance of 80 l-3
per cent.
Passenger fares are paid direct
ly to the carriers by those making
use Of the service continues the re-
port in another section, land they
know what itcost them. Payment for
freight charges, while less actual.
The general public does not know,
and propably does not stop to con-
slider what proportion, Of the cost Of
a ton Of coal, or Of the price of a
dwelling, or the rent of an apart
ment represents freight charges but
the cost of freigh. transportation cen
tiers into the cost OF selling price of
practically everything used by the
public.
ssIn many cases to be sure freight
charges represent but small pro-
portion of the total cost of things
used or consumed, but it is quite
probable that the average family
pays much more in the course OF a
year as freight charges than it does
for passenger fares.
tWe know of no provision of law
under which we should be justified
in increasing freight rates to provide
a return upon property used ex-
clusively in the passenger service
much less to take care of losses in
CURED in such service. In our
opinion each branch Of the service
should contribute its proper share
OF the cost Of operation and Of return
upon the property devoted to the
use Of the public.
In its conclusions tie commission
found that as a general proposition
the railway systems included in the
official classification territory were
deserving Of increased rates, and with
four important exception, provide
| for the new schedule being made ef-