The sun., 1914-09-15
BIG SHIPPER URGES
HIGHER RAIL RATES
Head of sharp, Dohme 4 Co.
Writes to President of
Imperative Need.

That the railroads 81 the United states
must got higher freight rates II they are
to avoid rccelverships and that the ship
pers would rather see them get 10 per
cent Increase and have the industries
hum with activity from the text OF a letter
sent to President Wilson by \. R. Ia
Dohmc. president of Sharp. Dohme q Co.
manufacturing chemists Of this city and
Baltimore. who have branches at many
other points.
Tho decision Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission is so Impractical and
has so paternal a flavor" says the letter.
that its main result will be to absolutely
prevent further growth OF mileage or de-
VclupJncnt Of territory and as well compel
many more railroads 10 go into receivers
hands. This company, whose president
have the honor to be. Is in a very fair
position to speak upon this question be-
cause II ships all over the country and
prcpays It's freight At u dead expense TO
itself II hence would naturally like to
see freight rates reduced.
"But as business men who appreciate
that you cannot expect competent service
from a sick employee We know that un-
less We agre. to pay more for freight eN-
pense the railroads must give us less eni-
cient service II they are making deficits
instead of profits from month TO month
We would prefer ia pay 10 per cent
rate increase and see industry hum with
activity and all people employed and at
good wages. and every one contented and
all railroads developing and growing and
opening up new parts Of this great land
than to see body of men haggle over
and try To- see how small they can make
the rate increase and on how little add
tional the railroads can Just manage TO
-t.s "A fNs.. ,fs,a
The shipper, the railroads. the en-
ployees of the railroads. merchants, manu-
facturers, their employees. the holders
of the securities of all railroads. miners,
farmers. charities of all kinds and this
covers the vast majority of the people or
this country. will distinctly and directly
suffer financial loss and personal incon-
venience and discomfort. MS we'll as sut-
fering az the result of this railroad rate
decision OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission.
IL do not know the politics OF the
members of the Interstate Commerce
Commission and I do not care 10 know
them. But do know that their decision
is a destructive one and not a construc-
tive one. II Is reactionary and not pro-
grcssvc and ii corresponds with the ten
dency of the present Government TO break
into little bits all things OF any size be-
cause of fear of great things. apparently.
THE net result OF such n policy Is
rctrogreeson Instead of progression and
its effect will be TO hurt business beyond
the dreams of the pesslmlsm prevalent to-
day."
Mr.. Dohme goes on to say that II lies
with President Wilson as Chief EXecu-
/ tive, with the cooperation OF Congress, to
see that the railroads receive what they
| need TO meet the great demands the coun
/ try places upon them Congress should
see that the necessary legislation Is passed
/ not only TO help our merchant marine
which needs help most pronounccdly, but
/ also our railroads. which need II equally
as much. He asserts that to wait for
/ the commission to hand down another
decision is to condemn the railroads "a
! lingering death. while the period the
1 country now faces Is critical IN that II
/ offers opportunities never before Of
| fered for constructive and Coopera-
! tive work between all the elements that
make up the United States and that are
essential to its growth and success.
IAN railroads that asked for a per
! cent. rate Increase should receive 1t, Mr.
| pohme says. Some should receive more
than per cent and some that have moi
| asked for Il should receive H. Remember
that the shippers pay the freight and th'
vast majority are more than wiling tt
do so and that Mr., Brandeis by no means
represents even n moderate minority OF
the people
"If it develops that Congress cannot
! or will not legislate to the end that freigh
rates are increased then Congress ant
the Chief Executive should instruct th'
! Interstate Commerce Commission tC
promptly reopen the rate case and gram
the railroads what they absolutely need
to continue to serve tho people OF thi
| country"