Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-06

favorable to the railroads as seemed
likely q month ago. according to repre-
sentatives of various shippers who
have been in Washington this week in
en- effort to ascertain what the findings
are to be.
The various members of the commits
sion are reported as still divided on the
question Of what increases to grant
the railroads and what to deny.
That but slight increases. If any. will
be allowed on livestock, packing house
products. and the general run OF farm
products. was the assertion made to
one person in the confidence of the
commission. He said that the commits
sion has about reached a decision moi
to increase coal rates from Illinois to
other states in western territory
May Not Allow Increase.
When the hearings in the western
rate case closed some time ago and
the arguments were heard in Washing
ton shortly thereafter the impression
gained was that the commission had
made up its mind to grant the requests
of the railroads almost in the same de-
gree that it granted them in the east
ern case last December Since that
time there have been many indications
that the commission is not inclined TO
approve the increases desired by the
carriers
In the first place the argument was
advanced thruought the case that the
western railroads never were in as bad
a financial condition as the eastern
lines. that their earnings were relative
ly higher. and that they had been
granted increases within the past few
years on most OF the commcoitles
which they sought to increase further.
More Earnings in 1915.
With respect to their earnings. 1t has
been pointed out that their monthly re-
norts for the last few months show in
creases in their net revenues over iast
wear Reports received up to today
indicate that for the month OF June
alone the net revenue has increased
$40 per mile DER the net revenue ior
June OF last year.
This increase in many instances mas
been due to economies. altho for the
NORTH of June 1t was due IN part 10
Increases IN tonnage, as the gross rev.
enues for that month were greater eiian
In June last year
"
consideration. many shippers turnout
the territory affected approved the In
crease believing that it would ma
+eriaI,y improve business conditions
s.,:.,-a-s -e-e almost unanimous In
their fight against the proposed in
creases during the hearing on the west
ern case at Chicago.
Politics in Case?
~. o,o,,ept NJ nolitjcS which by
many was regarded as having played
a n important part in bringing the COM
mission into line in favor OF the east
ern advance is also said to be working
AGAINST the railroads in the western
cases.
After the commission on Aug. i last
wear had decided against the railroads
in the eastern case a delegation OF
railroad presidents called on President
Wilson at the White House and urged
him to favor their cause. The presi-
dent issued an open letter In which he
said that he believed that prosperity
could be greatly FASTENED in this coun-
try II the commission would grant the
increase in rates.
The railroad men Immediately asked
a reopening Of their case before the
commission. on the ground that the
European war had created new and
unusual conditions, and their plea was
granted
Parties Oppose Increase.
Both the republican and democratic
party organizations in practically all OF
the states affected by the western case
are opposed to the increase. iowa
shippers were united in their fight
against the increase and so were the
shippers in Wisconsin.
A person who is close to the COM
mission pointed out that during the
eastern rate hearings few OF the states