The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-15
eTHE FREIeAT RArE INCREASE

& O.
The news that the Interstate Com
merce Commission has at last grant
ed the five per cent. increase in
freight rates to railroads, Is good
news to the business world general
The application for this increase
has been before the Commission for
the past eighteen months and was
denied in. May 1873. Following this
refusal the Commission began an in
xestigation as to the reasons for the
demand from the railroads which was
continued for a year, in which time
yolun1inous testimony both for ana
against the railroads, was taken with
the result that the increase was den1-
led to the Eastern roads, but granted
to4all roads operating within the Cen
I trail Freight Association Territory.
The Commission has been sevcrly
crit cised for its long delay in decld-
& ing this question, but it is very prob
1 rSBle that it was justified in It's deces-
ions very largely by the testimony it
had taken, but, be that as 1t may, the
y country generally had made up It's
mind that the railroads needed thls
, relief to help meet increased operat'
;inE expenses and public sentiment mas
II been with the railroads for the hrSI
y time in many years. The cause foT
4 this, is no doubt, the favorable attl-
B tade the newspapers OF the country
have taken towards the railroads.
lSlrlSat the railroad companies needed a
e severe rebuke for sharp business prac-
tices such as rebatIng and the juggl-
y IL 8of dividends by unnecessary over
4 head sexpenses in the payment OF large
salaries to- officials, is very true, but
10 deny them the slight increase In
freight rates was punishment that
sWas reaching down to every employee.
causing retrenchment and the loss OF
tSsI;rk to an alarming decree. Many
liuesswere facing bankruptcy, and re-
ceiYerships, and the long looked for
lreliefa has not been granted any too
soon:
The railroad companies have
Drought about the conditions that
Il caused this long delay, owing to an
sriifayorable public sentiment against
them which 1t took long time TO
\ ever come, and which would have
been impossible to eradicate without
tliesaid OF the. press.
The report from Washington is TO
The effect that the commissioners de-
y cIsions has not yet been given out, but
that It will be announced within the
next ten days. This decision will go
y rs long way towards reviving business,
VI Snd5 establishing confidence, and the
SFairmont region will no doubt soon
feel Sthe5 benefit Of this revival. This
reEion, and especially the & Q
has been hit very hard by the bust.
ness depression. The B & 0 is still
laying men off and retranchtng in eve
~ possible way. More traInps and
Sbunis are riding its freight cars than
ever before, land the shipping has fall
Ter off to an alarming degree. Eyt-
Eence that this increase was justified
BY conditions is furnished by the
fact that the larger shippers tav'
ored lit. II five per cent. increase in
freight rates will put the furloughed
snten on the B & o and other lines
Rack to work, It is bound to be good
ling for the country. The C Q has
been made to suffer, for the sharp
practices of such corrupt management
ms was given the New Haven and 9TH
or lines which has brought railroad
management generally into disrepute.
Without healthy railroad conditions
the country cannot be prosperous. The
tRJitoad5 lines are the arteries of
commerce and when these channels Of
transportation, become clogged or in.
active. the whole business system soon
fsrts out of order. This fight for in
creased freight rates shows that the
Il e5twilling to be fair with tho
1Iroad companies and all other
: public service corporations If they
VIII only be fair and honest with the
public;