Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-18
AL-LOCAL AND OTHERWISE.
BY I. A. FLEMING

NO more important matter, from the
standpoint of American business inter
ests. will come up for consideration dur
Ing the coming week than the reheartne
on the rate case which opens before the
Interstate commerce commission tomor-
row. 1t overshadows everything else
north Of the cotton crop line and west OF
the war zone: indeed. its Importance and
its bearing on the future are not shadow
ed by anything.
| If the interstate commerce commission
shall reverse itself and permit the rail
roads of the country to put into effect
at once freight rates that will enable
the railroads of the country to rehabilitate
themselves; to make improvements and
| betterments which are now held in abey-
ance. it will mean the revival of Ameri-
can industry, employment to thousands
and tens of thousands who otherwise
will know the pangs of poverty through
| unemployment
Grating today on less than SO per scent
| capacity, will have room for more en-
ployes; railroads will cease the use
of the pruning knife on train schedules
and maintain the highest efficiency for
the travelling public-in word the
great arteries of the nation would
| again work in their proper order and
with best efficiency. and not be COM
PEELED to permit depreciating service
and material as well as to reduce en-
ployment and make Inadequate the
railroad facilities of the country.
Since the decision of the commission
to reopen the hearing there has been
a nationwide demand for fair treat
ment of the railroads, and the so-called
economists, who were to the fore in
contesting the advance a year ago, are
not heard from.
In the last few years charges have
mounted higher with each year. The
modest or immooest demands of labor
have always forced action in the at
firmative, or in a compromise with
portion of demands granted The in
creased cost of materials is admitted
Taxes have been moving upward with
the universal trend-yet freight rates
have been more or less stationary
Some Interesting Facts.
Based on comparisons with 1911. the
taxes of the Atchison system for 1914
have increased 63.14 per cent; st. Louis
and Southwestern's taxes are 62.9S per
cent greater; Texas Pacific. 2S.5 per cent
increase Kansas City Southern, 56.92 per
cent heavier, and Houston and Texas
Central pays over 81 per cent more
Missouri Pacific is taxed 1855 per cent
more than in 1911.
Gross earnings of these roads suffer
by nearly per cent on an average be-
cause of taxes alone.
Figures That Tell Story.
For July and August, two months of
this fiscal year, for which many rail-
roads have reported their gross earnings,
the average is far below the average of
tho corrosnondinp months of last year.
Part of this loss may be charged to
the war, certainly none of the July
figures, but for whatever reason. the
losses form a strong argument In be-
half of the granting Of the advance even
more than the 5 per cent asked. that
value may be put under our American
railroad stocks and bonds and further re-
and losses avoided.
Here are some of the more prominent
of the roads and their losses for the
two months named as compared with the
same months in 1914: