St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1915-03-06
RATE INCREASE
NECESSARY
FARMERS UNION OFF.
GALS THINK RAILROADS
ARE ENTITLED TO
MORE REVENUE.
Products of Plow and Farmer
Who Lives at Home Should
Be Exempt From In
crease,
By Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers, Union

Lecturer National Farmers Union
The recent action of the Inter
state Commerce Commission in
granting an increase in freight
rates IN the eastern classification
OF territory; the application OF
the roads by state and interstate
commissions for an increase in
rates, and the utterances of Pres
ident Wilson on the subject
bring the farmers of this nation
face to face with the problem ct
an increase in freight rates. It
is the policy OF the Farmers
Union to meet the issues affect
ing the welfare of the farmers
squarely and we will do SO in
this instance.
The transportation facilities OF
the United States are inadequate
to effectively meet the demands
OF commerce and particularly in
the South and West additional
railway mileage is needed to ac-
commodate the movement of farm
products. IF in the wisdom OF
our Railroad Commissions an in
crease in freight rates is neces-
sary to bring about an improve
mer1t IN our transportation ser
vice, and an extension of our
mileage, then an increase should
be granted and the farmer is will
ing to share such proportion of
the increase as justly belongs to
him, but we have some sugges-
tons to make rs to the manner in
which this increase shall be lew
led.
Rates Follow Lines of Least Re-
sistance.
The freight rates of the nation
have been built up along lines OF
least resistance. The merchant,
the manufacturer, the miner, the
miller, the lumberman and the
cattleman have had their traffic
bureaus thoroughly organized and
in many instances they have pur-
sued the railroad without mercy
and with the power of organized
tonnage they have hammered the
life out of the rates and with un-
restrained greed they have eaten
the. vitals out OF cur transporta-
ton system and since we have
had railroad commissions. these
interests, with skill and canning,
are represented at every hearing
in which their business is In
VOWED.
The farmer is seldom repre-
seated at rate hearings as his or
CARNATIONS have never had the
finances to employ counsel to de-
his side OF the case and al
a result, the products of the plow
bear an unequal burden OF the
freight expense.
What is a Fair Ratea
We do not know what ooazstS
tutes a basis for rate making and
have never heard Of anyone Mha
did claim to know much about
it. but if the prosperity OF the
is a factor 70 be considered
and the railroad commission COR
that an increase 10 rates
necessary, we would prefer
hat it come to US through ar
.icles Of consumption on tbeis
Quincy from the factory 10 tn
arm. We would, for example
prefer that the rate On hogs re- !
main as at present and the rata /,
IN meat bear the increase. for amp |
armer can then avoid the bsxdea +,
III raising his own meat and q !
argner who wilt not try 10 raIsa |
lie own meat ought 10 be penal !,
zed. We think the rate oa coal t
nd brick can much better bear
m increase than the rate On cot. I
on and -four. We would prefer :
hat the rate on plows remain thu !
inane, and machinery, pianos and :
UGH articles % the peors favM- S
cannot hope to possess bear
hs burden of Increase. !
The Increase in rstes should hs :
arranged that the Arzaaa whs
iras at home will bear NO pant
{ the burden. but let Ne farm.
who boards iz other stasas and
ountries and who feeds his stock )
a foreign iaads, pay he psscs al
Is folly.