Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-11-25
WANT
MANY MILLIONS

Continued from Page One.)
OF the geographical area OF the country.
~ means that the farmers will have to
pay out over s4.0Oo,oO0 in additional
freight charges per annuin This affects
over 'eSS 200 bushels OF grain on which
the average carrying advance is at least
one-hAit of cent per bushel. OF this
grain 3S200O.0O0 bushels came into Chi
cago direct
* Mig boost in Meat Rates.
The packing interests are also vitality
affected. On packing house products,
such as fresh meats, etc., the railways
hava requested an increase that HNeV-
ages. SIs cents per hundred pounds This
means raise of 12la per cent This az
fects ell packing house points west OF
the Mississippi. such as Sioux city. Fort
Worth, Omaha, East ST. Louis, kansas
City and st. Joseph. In the face OF what
the live stock interests OF the country
have had to contend with and when the
damage to the industry that has been
done through the recent epidemic, raw
ares Of the hoof and mouth disease, this
raise on The face OF IT Is manifectly un-
Just 1t will react irretrievably against
the consumer. .y. Asst.
"The agricultural implement field offers
striking example of what the increase
entails. II would mean q freight raise
varying from 10 to 100 per cent, as well
as causing much inconvenience and extra
labor to The clippers affected. Previously
on payment oil s. fee for each unloading
the railways would unload at any stop
over point on the way to final destina-
tIon. This service they also now request
be eliminated. The proposed increased
tariff affects many OF the necessities OF
| life other than purely packing house
products. in addition, although the re-
| auested raise has not as yet been ex-
| tended to live stock It is the opinion of
those well vereed that such a proceeding
/ Is imminent g..
| Farmers Associations Help.
I'VE are pleased to say that we are
being helped in our propaganda by the
| Cooperative Farmers association, which
owns 1000 grain elevators in the affected
| area and has a membership OF over 80
i 000 In addition, other bodies OF equal Inn
\ porthnee1 ard as vitality interested are
aidink us. These are not actuated solely
] by selfish motives, but are fighting foi
! the national good and for the great body
of the. people, u.
! , There has been national cry that the
| railways throughout the country through
I lack OF money have been forced to cur.
! tall and indeed. In some cases, to prao'
, tically stop the buying OF supplies 1r
/ spite OF this plant. for the year endine
1913 they purchased over $6OOo0,000 worth
more OF supplies than In any previous
year. For the year which ended in July
\ 1914. there was bought by the railways
over %Oo0,00O worth more supplies thar
in any like period.
Borrowing Power Not CurtaiIed.
ut has also been stated that railway
earnings are go small as to jeopardize th'
credit Of the roads and. therefore. thai
it has been we'll nigh impossible for then
| to borrow sufficient money to max,
! necessary Improvements. However,
| proved before the Interstate Commerce,
/ commission that a certain railroad hac
I borrowed. at rate of not over 4, per cen
( $Sb000.c00 on the security of one-yeai
notes There 10 no other business in THU
country, / maintained and proved at thai
time. that could do likewise These facti
surely prove that we are entitled in jus
tire to the Interests represented by u.
to have the benefit OF a careful investiga
ton made by the Interstate. Commerce
commission. No advance in rates Should
/ become effective until that body hal
found that tho carriers have shown tina
/ the advance In rates is reasonable anC
that the increased revenue which the car
riers will receive is fairly spportionet
AMONGST the various commodities carried
as freight"