Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-19
!. C. C. NOT UNANIMOUS
IN GRANTING INCREASE
Chairman Harlan and Commits
sioner Clements Dissent
Vigorously.
SOME EXCEPTIONS TO AWARD
In Administration Circles Outcome Is
Welcomed as of Great
Importance.

| thef increases IN freight rates were
granted to the Eastern railroads to-
day by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission In a decision from which
Chairman Harlan and Commissioner
Clements disscnted vigorously.
Except on lake and rail traffic, COAL
coke iron ore and certain other traf-
fc. upon which the commission here
tofore has fixed rates adjudicatcd 'rea-
sonable," NIL railroads operating in the
territory between the Atlantic sea
board and the Mississippi. north OF
the Potomac and Ohio Rivers. were al
lowed the fiat . per cent increase for
which they have been asking for four
years.
The railroads hoped to get increases
which would add to the annual rev
enIes some s50.000,o0o. The commits
sion's decision is expected TO give them
additional revenue appr oximating $780,
00o. 900.
The roads cast OF north and south
line drawn through Buffalo, Pitts
burgh and Charleston. w. Va. won by
to-day's decision the increases other
than npou the traffic excepted. which
were denied them in the commissions
decision last August. The roads west
OF this line, which got partial ad
vances in the August decision, received
further advances: so that now all ,hc
roads. In what Is described as official
classification territory. Will enjoy uni
form advances In both class and COM
modify rates.
The majority of the commission held
that the roads had established in the
latest hearings, a greater need of ad-
ditional nc; income than ever before.
This WAS due. the decision held, to
cSigencies arising out Of the war, and
TO an already existing necessity for
additional revenues to maintain rail
road properties"
FINDINGS Of MAJORITY
-MoRALLY WRONG"
Chairman Harlan, In his dissenting
opinion. held that sufficient atd'"had
hccn given the roads by the August
decision. and that the findings OF the
majority were morally wrong" Com
missioner Clements based his dissent
upon what he regarded as the inabil-
ity, in law. OF the commission TO AXE
cognizancc of anything In the making
Of rates other than their justice and
rcasona ablcness
In adni pistration circles the out
come OF the case WAS welcomed as Of
vast Importance. President Wilson is
sued no formal statement. but the
White House officials said he was
greatly pleased over the decision and
expected II 10 have an Immediate effect
upon the country's economic situation.
'rhc President had made secret of
his belief that Improvement Of cond-
tions generally was dependent, to an
extent at least. upon additional rev.
cnue being provided in some way for
the railroads. TratiiC on which no in
crease was allowed represents about
80 per cent of the entire volume OF
freight handled iy the roads. Coal.
coke and iron ore, however. are bulky
commodities. taking lower rates. con
scuucntly the revenue derived from
them liz relatively small.
In the Eastern District. 10 per cent
of the entire volume of freight as an
thracitc, 81 per cent bitumlnous coal.
per cent coke, per cent ores. The
coal roads. IN the opinion OF the com
mission. already are profitable.
PERMITS ADVANCES on
SEVERAL COMMODITIES
After further consideration, the com
mission permits advances To be made
on cement, starch, brick. tile. clay and
plaster on these commodities no ad-
Vanccs We're permitted by the decision
of August !. Joint rates between Of
fetal classification territory and terri
tory south of the Potomac and Ohio
and cast Of the Mississippi may be in
creased not TO exceed per cent. In
tcrstatc rates to and from New England
also may be increased not to exceed
per cent.
While present existing differentials
among various Atlantic ports are pre-
served, the rates between any two of
them also may be increased > per cent.
The decision says:
while differ as to the relative
. Importance to be attached to the vari-
Gus considerations presented, we agree
in the conclusion that it is necessary
that the carriers revenues be supple
mcntcd by increases throughout official
classification territory. Whatever the
consequences OF the war may prove
to be, we must recognize the fact that
1t exists, the fact that it is calamity
without precedent and the fact that by
il the commerce OF the world has been
disarranged and thrown into confusion
The means of transportation are funda-
mental and indispensable agencies in
our industrial life, and for the com
mon veal should be kept abreast of
public requirements.
Carriers will be required TO keep an
account of the additions to their reye-
nues from increases in rates subsequent
to July %, 1914. and from new charges
aud. to report separately thereon to the
commission at the end of twelve and
twenty-four months. respectively"
MAY BE INCREASED
UNDER LIMITATIONS
After stating the exceptions. the de-
csion proceeded:
I'm our original reports we declined
to allow increased rates in central
freight association territory on cement. !
starch, brick, tile. clay and plaster.
On further consideration in the light
Of existing situation, these rates NAV
be increased throughout official classic |
cation territory under the limitations
herein set forth.
Joint rates between official ella ssif-
cation territory OH the one hand and
southeastern territory, the southwest |
. and points Oh or east of the Missouri |
River on the other, may be increased |
/T,on1Jn,,o.a -. NUT, j