The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-17
LETTERS TO EDITOR
The Shippers Side of Rate Increase


 To the Editor of The Age Herald Judging from news reports and edi- | torial expressions, Birmingham news papers treat the recent rate advance somewhat as might be accorded the news that the American army had won victory in war with a foreign foe. Do they forget that this great "vic- tory" presupposes the existence of the vanquished? Our own people. already burdened with the high cost of living, must put up the Indemnity (the per cent rate increase) the carriers now demand as reward for their efforts to win a majority of the interstate commerce commission to their way of thinking.
 For months the public has been bom- barded through the press with walls eyer the desperate straits into which the railroads had fallen. The business mems mail has been cluttercd with pamphlets written to prove that tie railroads were the true source of all genuine blessings to country through "development' and that failure to pay dividends meant calamity beside which drought and pestilence were as naught.
 Turn ye," they cry, from contem- . rlation of the miserable Belgianp. anoi let us show you suffering with a car itaI .S' Imagine. if you can, the plight Of A noble Wall street banker whose ratriotism prompted him to underWrite railroad bonds for 50 per cent rake eff now living a hand-to- month exl5- tence without being able to float 8 single new bond for more than six " fr1 toR no the rescue!.w All these inspired ar tIcles were pitched to a common key the expenses of a railroad were simply awful--all closed with the same prophetic refrain, Give us the 5 per cent increase and we will bless all the people!'
 Did it ever occur to them that simpler way to bestow this blessing on the people would be to let the people keep it? In financial way times are admittedly hard. If is not to be doubted that railroad earn- ings are less than a year ago; but is not every line of business similarly affected With thousands of men out or work ana business dependent upon cotton at standstill, would it not have been marve- Ious had the railroads failed to feel the effects of such widespread conditions?
 '.The railroads will pass dividends If the rate raise is not forthcoming Granted: but what about the farmer and merchant whose dividends also .pass?'
 I've cannot borrow money under per cent, unless this increase is permitted. the managers cry. Perhaps not: but most people hereabouts are in the same boat. and it has never been suggested that a tax be levied on the railroads to help the Alabama patrons! In the light of the New Haven relations and Frisco disclos- ures, is it to be wondered that money lenders are chary about dumping gold into sssz--a enterprises? Many business con- cerns in this section have gone Co the wall in years past through faulty man. agement or lack of income. without q thought of levying per cent indem- nity on the public.
 So far as principle is concerned. tn, carriers act in levyng tribute upon the freight payers under guise of q rate in- crease" differs in wise from q con certed move on the part of Birmingham merchants to pad all customers accounts 5 per cent in order that the merchants Income might not fall below the standard they had fixed as convenient It passes comprehension how some people can sut-