The Washington times., 1914-12-30
EASTERN LINES PLAN
FOR RATE INCREASES
Carriers to Net S50.000.OO0.
Additional Revenue Annually
If Scheme Is Sanctioned.

general increase in freight rates
independent of the 3 per cent increase
Erauted b. the Interstate CommeTC G
Commission III lis decision OF December
~, is now being planned by the East
ern railroads.
The new tariffs VIII advance rates on
live stock. grain, and. for the mos;
part, foodstufs transported from the
West No effort Will be made to seek
increases on various articles excepted
under the recent ruling OF the COM
mission.
The new rates, Il allowed, together
with the per cent already granted,
viii increase the annua! net revenue OF
The Eastern railroads by nearly 40, OBJ
30 the figure estimated as the probable
eturn Of the original tariff advances
Commission on Nay 20, 1911. denied by
ths commission on Jul ~ and subse-
Vuently approved in part on Deem
Der Is.
Basis For Advance.
Tie basis for the new rate advance,
the railroads point out, lies in two sug-
sessions made by the Interstate Com
raerce Commission. The Irst was made
on July %. when in handing down the
decision refusing the per cent freight
Increase the commission urged the rail-
Ioads 10 examine carefully their
ueight rates, rules. and regulations
with a view 10 increasing rates that
--e found TO he clearly unremunera-
tive"
The second and supplemental susges-
Ton gwen along with the final decision
Of December IS follows: ut is expected
- IL l.
-hs original report July 2e) for the
purpose OF conserving and augmenting
me net revenue carriers generally will
ne carried forward without interrupt
;,or'
Railroad officials explain that the
'trkt suggestion called upon them 10
make q thorough examination and re-
adjustment OF the rates on each specific
commodity. with a view TO making the
ate on each Independently remunera-
I'VE This. they say. had been done in
part when it was learned the per cent
increase might be reconsidered and
granted in part.
To Readjust Rates.
Al revisions made between The lime Of
the original suggestion of the commits
sion and its order. on December Is.
winch we're not suspended BY the final
order will be allowed TO stand. But all
Tariffs which have not hcen revived
With view to specific increases ON
rates at present on subnol-mal basis
Will be resdjusted in accordance with
the second suggestion OF the commits
son and Irrespective OF she A.. nor cent
increase granted. In the case :, many
sfuc!es, however. the ) per cent in
crease VIII be found sufficient IN meat
,le oehahuS o. this new basis OF tariff
On other articles on which the exist
live stock. dressed meats, Dackin-- bo,,se
prooucte. hay, grain. -four. Conner.
corn syrup and foodsturfs gereraIi,t
adjustment snd increase. where deem
"a necessary, will be soughf. TIE
aIss tor these articles, il IS uoinred
oot' had their origin in fierce conn ,t1-
on Tor tHrIsfs or under the menace OF /
ne nig traffic Of powerful shippers.
SA2road officials also indicate that
c1e oay OF horizontal incres sea ended
With the granting OF the per cent in
= ease, and that from now on whenever
are sought they will be
y orhed out on a basis of having each
sFoeles be independently renynera tive |
m tsndard basis OF return
Only Objection Here.
The only objection known TO this Dlan
rom the point Of the railroads is that |
ne shipper will be able 10 make spe-
nc objections TO an increase on aI,v
ne article, such as has been generally |
impossible under the horizontal in
sFeasea.
The tsrir schedules hzing the new
anss are bseng prepared sinrlfta neouxlv /
Htch the tariff schedules for the . nor
emf Increase, which will be filed with /
ne commission in parts from nov, yntiI
no latter part OF January The new
ate schedules, although prepared now.
yiu not be submitted to the commits
noIi until several months after the . |
1sr cent increase has been operative, in
rider TO determine better what other /
'czrSes may be needed.