The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-11
INCREASE FREIGHT
 RATE ON COAL, BUT
 NOT ON LIVESTOCK
I. O. c. Ruling on Western Freight Rate Case Acts
 Both Ways.

Washington, Aug. e11-The Inter- state Commerce Commission today gave it's decision in the Western freight rate case allowing advances vegetables. and denying increases in grain, livestock, packing house pro ducts, fertilizers and broom corn The decision allows some of the in creases asked and denies almost an equal number.
 The commission summarized it's de cision as follows:
 Proposed increased carload rates on grain and grain products consider ed as one commodity not Justified.
 Proposed increase from 3e.000i pounds to 10000 pounds in the mini mum carload weight of the grain pro- ducts Justified.
 Proposed increased carload rates on livestock not justified.
 Proposed increased carload rates on packing house products and fresh meats, except as indicated between points on the Missouri river not justi- fled.
 on fertilizer and fertilizer materials not Justified X
 Proposed increased rates on bitun1- inous coal, except as to South Dakota points, Justified.
 "The rates on coke here proposed which are the same as on coal, justi- fled.
 Proposed increased carload rates on brewers rice and less than carload rates on domestic rice justified.
 Proposed increased carload rates on broom corn not justified.
 Proposed increased import rates and proposed increases in carload nainina. from gulf ports, justified. Proposed increased carload rates l nTo l Proposed increased carload rates on hay and straw where not in. excess 1 of Class c, justified.
 I Proposed increased any quantity ratSs on cotton piece goods and pro posed increased carload rates from points inI Texas, not justified l The decision affects freight rates mainly west of the Mississippi and in l the southwest. It affects, indirectly, | every railroad in the United States and the commission today served mo- l tice. of it's action upon 2,300 great and small lines. The decision denies l all the more important increases ask ed. The advances granted are in the Viewpoint of *ne conrnisison of reIa- l lively little significance
 The commission itself has no final l estimate of the amount of the increase in dollars and cents. ' From various estimates of record, however, made | Dy witnesses TOT DOLh SlQSS ana aDaSeO upon the higher figures where the es- inmates disagreed, the following, an nounced in the decision, indicates 1 roughly the annual increase in the railroad revenues had the increases been allowed to go into effect:
 Grain and grain products, s2,e4o,- 237; live stock, $1,5O0,o00; packing house products and fresh meats, $1,- l 5o0,0 %; coal, $1,226,1 ,12s, making with l other items a total of S5y6O4, ,247.'"
 Dissenting reports were filed by Commissioners Daniels and Harlan Differing from the attempt of the Eastern railroads to get a five pei cent. increase the Western roads, in stead of asking a uniform increase singled out particular commodities moving mainly in carloads and pro- posed specified increases. changes ef- fecting minimum weights, increased 1 charges for special service. and m | creased rates on number of nis- ce11aneous articles.
 | They based the claims for addi | tiona1 revenue on the ground of finan- ciaI need the downward tendency o. their net earnings and because the commodities involved do not beal | their equitable share of the burden The state commissions and othe
 bodies denied that the financial con
 dition of the roads warranted increas a5