Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-12
RATES DECISION
FAVORS SLIPPERS


CONTINUED from Page one)
west. Il affects. Indirectly, every rail-
road IN the United States and the COM
mission today served notice OF It's action
upon 1850 large and small lines. The de-
ciatn denies all the more important IN
creases The advances granted are. in
the viewpoint Of the commission. of
relatively little Significance
seven AfilIions Increase.
Tho commission itself has no final esti-
mate OF the amount OF the increases in
dollars and cents. From various esti-
mates OF record. however. made by wit
nesses for both sides and based upon the
higher figures where the estimate dis
agreed. the following table announced In
the decision. indicates roughly the annual
increase In the railway revenues and the
increases being allowed 70 so into effect:
Grain and grain products. s2,eto.2s7
Packins house products and fresh
meats. 81 100000.
Coal, u23s,i2.
This makes. with other items, a total
OF 6.6Ot.2r.
Daniels ana Harlan Dissent.
Dissenting reports were filed by Com
missioners Daniels and Harlan.
Differing from the attempt OF the east
ern railroads 70 set 5 per cent increase,
4 tho western roads, instead Of asking a
uniform Increase. singled out particular
commodities. moving mainly In carload
lots and specified increases. changes ar
fecting minimum weights, increased
charges Tor special service. and In
creased rates on a number OF misoel-
ianoous articles. They based these claimI
| for additional revenue on the ground Of
financial needs, the downward tendency
! OF their net earnings and because the
commodities involved do not bear their
equitable share Of the burden. The state
commissions and other bodies denied
that the financial condition OF the roads
warranted increased rates.
The region more particularly affected
by the decision embraces Illinois. Wis.
consin. Minnesota, the Dakotas. Colorado
Nebraska. Iowa. Kansas. Missouri. Ar.
kansas. Louisiana. Texas. Oklahoma
New Mexico and the coal traffic area
OF Indiana. Kentucky and Alabama.
DAnieIs for Greater Concessions.
Commissioned Daniels in his dlssen
held the roads were entitled 10 increases
Far IN excess OF those granted by to
days decision. lie was convinced tina
the majority Of the commission In 70
fuSing the principal increases took tn
position that tho financial straits OF tn
railroads were traeeahle TO mAl-admln
J istration. The Commissioner held tina
there was no question a. to the facts o
the financial affairs OF tho Rock Island
Frisco system and the Alton. which h
referred TO as having been wrecked an
plundered. but held the rate Increase
= were Justified on their own merit.
e lie added that the railroads ha
/. aoundantiy demonstrated" that the
r. operating income was smaller than
o demanded n the public Interest.
+ Commissioner Harlan's dissent We
n brief. merely holding that. aside fro,
y the financial condition OF the railroad
a he was convinced that the increases the
y asked were just and reasonable. "a
n eoneurrod In the increases allowed in n
l. majority report, but was unable 70 agrs
s. with the refusal 40 grant increases O
live stock. fresh meats. packing hou,
= products and cotton piece Goods
d some o9eratins Ratios Toe Lars
e The majority held that the financi
~ experience Of the roads had been that
industry generally. but referred 20 a
In Possibility that particular carriers. l
reason Of financial encouragement, y
Elected 10 their operating methods, ha,
al been uneoOnomicai and was the result
expenditure and thus necessarily d
~ creased their operating ratlos."
" 1T does not appear" the majority bel
that any uniform relationship can
traced between the present level Of 4
operating ratio OF carriers. whose financl
administration has been culpable ana
the remainins carriers Similarly I
y stances Of notable increases In the opc
a. ating ratios do not seem to be eonfin
'ai 10 roads such a. the Rs>x Island or 4
az Frisco. The nesative conclusion recssv,
IN this connection 4 but confIrmatory
uf the fact that me general Increase IN Z
en- operating ratios IL tracesble 10 dee
" seated underlyins causes which have .