The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-12
GENERAL INCREASE. IN PASSENGER RATES.
 AUTHORIZED IN WEST.
Interstate Basis of "A Cents Held Justifiable in Wis cOnsin, Illinois, Michi-
 gan andNearby States

Washington, December 11-General | Increases in passenger fares on west l ern railroads were authorized by the Interstate commerce commission today. some of the increases asked for were 1 dlsapproved, but such as were allowed Will result in an increase in revenue An interstate basis of 2.4 cents per mile
 vas held justifiable in Illinois, Wiscon- sin, Michigan upper peninsula, Minne- sota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, north of the Missouri river and in part of Kansas.
 basis of 26 per mile was allowed in Missouri south of the Missouri river and i'll part of Kansas.
 A basing rate of 21h cents mile in North and South Dakota and cents in the state south and west was approved. Increase in fare to the east of Michi- gan, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas, based on newly authorized rates in that territory
 was pronounced reasonable. The commission held that evidence in
 the case, in which nearly 50 roads were
 involved and which was part of the whole
 western advance rate case, showed sub stantially the following:
 That since 1900 the railroads have made substantial improvements in passenger service for convenience and safety at a great expense
 That passenger service conditions do not permit of economies possible in the freight service, and that the increas costs not offset by those economies which exist are entitled to consideration That passenger service in the western territory is less profitable than freight service and that the existing ra-es are lower than those in the south, east and west. but that there is some justification for that.
 The decision repeats the holdings of the recent advance freight rate cases that railroads have felt the increased costs of living, and recites that the pub lie has the right to expect adequate, comfortable and safe service. ~~~~-~-~~~~~~-~-~~---~~- tary Lansing as saying that the recall of Captain Boy-Ed and Captain Von Pa pen, the naval and military attaches, re- spect1vely, of the German embassy at Washington, has no political bachground. The Morgen Post comments sarca stically: Perhaps MT. Wilson simply want ed to do the two officers a favor by helping them to return to their be- loved home, and perhaps the moisture which he has shed over German-Amer- jeans came from the sea of his love for everything that is German The Morgen Post considers the Amer ican note in the Ancona case as a fur ther "hetz'
 The KreHzzeitung says of the Lans- ing statement:
  attaches has no political background, 1t is an unfriendly act which fits per fectly into the frame of President Will sons general policy toward Germany" Count Von Reventlow, in the Tages Zeitung, has leader headed: GERMAN POLICY ''Wilson's Policy Toward Germany He says it is impossible to discuss the question fully because the negotiations between Germany and the United States have recently been carried se- cretly and because existing regulations forbid the touching of certain ques- tions. He declares that the American wishes in various directions have been complied with by Germany to the full est extent, and adds:
 "One is astonished to learn from Q New York dispatch to the Wolff bu- reau that the Lusitania affair is not yet fully settled
 Count Von Reventlow declares that the press campaign against Germany is in line with MT. Wilson's attitude, all though indignant criticism of alleged German attacks is of recent date and continues
 "One might almost assume that Mir. Wilson is convinced that he cannot win the German American element for himself. Anyway, he now abandons
 further attempts and pictures German Americans as the country's enemies, according to the old rule. Now give it to him good Probably he desires also to take the wind out of his rival Roosevelt's sails, for Roosevelt ha S long demanded a rupture of relations with Germany"
 Count Won Reventlow says that. a feeling of general surprize exists among Germans over President Wilson's lam guage and the tone of the great part of the American press, after Germany had gone so far in meeting the wishes of the United States.