Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-24
Chittenden County
Trust Company
au ! Jon, w.
RATE DECISION
TO The COURTS

Washington Dec. 21-Attcmpts to have
the courts prevent the railroads increas-
ing rates in accordance with the decision
Of the interstate commerce commission
in the five per cent. case are looked for
by members Of that body.
The point of attack probably will be
on the fact that the commission. with
out taking a word of testimony, an
uounced that 1t would allow a five per
cent increase on cement, plaster, starch
and several other commodities.
In its first decision the commission
specifically forbade increases on those
articles. Courts have frequently set aside
orders Of the commission, on complaint
Of railroads, on the assumption that
there had been no hearing such as COM
| handed by the law They have set aside
orders on the ground of insufficiency of
the evidence. With regard to cement
Ulaster and starch, no testimony was
taken on the rehearing.
Clifford Thornc, State railroad COM
missioner for Iowa. is expected to lead
the fight to prevent the higher rates
being put into effect in advance of
specific hearings on commodities. He
bitterly opposed any advance, sub
hitting figures to show that the rail-
roads in the last five years have made
more money than in any five-year period
in their history.
Representatives of the railroads who
| keep In close touch with the commission
are privately talking OF the decision as
half a loaf. The fact that lake-and-rail
rates ore to be kept down is the fly in
| the ointment.
The difference between the al-rail and
the alexandria, rates-if the railroads
| are able to increase the former-wil be
! greater than It has been at any time in
twelve years Traffic men. as rule.
| frankly express the conviction that It
will be business impossibility for the
| railroads to increase rates except on a
few articles which. from their nature,
could not he carried by water from Chi
cago to Buffalo or In the reverse dircc-
ton except during tho winter months
II they reduced them in the summer
they would not he able to restore them
in winter except at the cost of making
another fight The law says that when
rates have been reduced on account Of
water competition they may not be raised
except on showing that something has
taken place other than the removal of
the water competition
The commissioners are not discussinc
their decision. They have agreed to
allow it to do its own talking. The
rumor that shippers organizations Will
undertake to prevent, by injunction, the
increases was generally spread about the
office of the commission. No comment
however, was offered.
Statisticians of the commission are try
ing to figure out what percentage OF
tonnage Will be affected by the prohibi
ton against an advance of lske-and-rai
rates The prohibition against advances
on coal, coke and iron ore affects So
per cent of the tonnage. Coal, coke ant
iron ore bring in tho large bulk Of tn,
revenues of railroads In eastern terri
tory.
Rates on them bring in the larges
earnings per car If they brought in nc
more than other commodities. the dollar.
and cents result Of the advances woulc
be less than 81. 10000 because less than
half the tonnage exclusive of Lakeland
, rail, will be favorably affected by tn,
advances.
Even If everything proceeds wthou
. a hitch. 1t is doubted whethe, the rail
roads will be able to begin to reap thu
benefit of the decision before February
10. They must prepare tariffs which vii
, make a five per cent. advance on rates
in effect on July 2S not held down b,
! unexpired orders of the commission, anc
the commodities carried in the excepted
, list