Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-12
WESTERN ROADS !.
GET RATE RAISE
MOST PRODUCTS OF THE FARM,
HOWEVER, ARE EXEMPTED "
FROM HIGHER CHARGES. &

aay save us decision IN the western
freight rate case, allowing advances
IN bituminous coal, coke, fruit and
vegetables, and denying increases on
gram, live stock, packing house prod.
; ucts, fertilizers and broom corn. The
decision allows some of the increases
asked and denies almost an equal
number.
The commission summarized it's
decision as follows @al
Proposed increased carload rates
on grain and grain products considered
as one commodity not justified.
proposed increase from 5000
pounds to 10000 pounds in the mi, y,
mum carload weight Of grain produt
justified.
Proposed increased car load rstesS
on live stock not justified.
Proposed increased car load rated
on packing products and fresh meats.
except as indicated between points On
the Missouri river not justified.
proposed increased car load rates
on fertilizer and fertilizer materials
not justified.
Proposed increased rates on b.
luminous coal except to South Dakota
points justified The rates on coke
here proposed. which are the Same %
on coal. justified.
Proposed increased car load rates
on brewers rice and less than ear
load rates on domestic rice justified.
proposed increased car load rates
on broom corn not justified.
proposed increased import rates
and proposed increases IN car load
minlma from gulf ports justified.
Proposed increased car load rates
on Irult and vegetables Justified
| proposed increased car load rates
on hay and straw where not In excess
of class c. justified.
Proposed increased any quantity
rates on cotton piece goods and pro
posed increased car load rates from
points IN Texas not Justified"
| Iowans Interested.
The decision affects freight rates
mainly west of the Mississippi and In
the southwest It affects. Indirectly.
every railroad in the United States
and the commission today served
notice Of its action on 1900 great and
small lines The decision denies all
the more important increases. The
advances, granted are. in the view.
point OF the commission, of relatively
little significance.
! The region particularly affected by
the decision embraces Illinois. W1scon.
sin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Colorado.
Nebraska. Iowa, Kansas. Missouri,
Arkansas, Louisville, Texas, Okla,
homa. New Mexico and the coal traf.
| fic areas OF Indiana, Kentucky and
Alabama. tN
The following figures announced in
the decision indicate roughly the an
nual Increase in the railroad revenues
had the increases been allowed to 20
into effect:
! Grain and grain products, $780,
237; live stock, $1,50O,000; packing
house products and fresh meats ST.
100000; coal. $l,226,1 1922; making. with
other items, total Of $7,604,247. ssf
Two Dissenting Reports.
Dissenting reports were filed by
Commissioners Daniels and Harlan.
Commissioner Daniels held the roads
were entitled to increases "far in e-.-
cess of those granted by today's decf
sion. He was convinced that the ma
jority OF the commission, in refusing
the principal increases, took the posi-
ton that the financial straits OF the
railroads were traceable to financial
INSTRUMENTATION The commissioner
held there was no question as to facts
in the financial affairs of the Rock
Island, Frisco system and the Alton,
which he referred to as having been
wrecked and plundered." but he held
the rate increases were justified on
their own merit.
| 1T is suggested" said Commissioner
Daniels, that the appropriate remedy
is the prosecution and punishment OF
individual offenders, not the continued
Withholding Of adequate rates to the
carriers as whole"
! He added that the railroads had
"abundantly demonstrated' that their
operating income was smaller than IL
demanded in the public interest.
HarIan's Opinion.
Commissioner Harlan's dissent was
brief, merely holding that, aside from
the financial condition OF the rail
roads. he was convinced that the in
creases they asked were just and
reasonable. He concurred in the in
creases allowed in the majority re-
port but was unable to agree with the
refusal to grant increases on live
stock, fresh meats, packing house
pTOuuCLS anu COttOu pl0Cc BOOuS, SOni0-
Of the principal freight on which tho
roads asked more revenue. R.i..
The majority held that the financial
experience Of the roads had been that
of industry generally; but refers to the
possibility that particular carriers by
reason of financial mismanagement re-
Elected in their operating methods
have been uneconomical and wasteful
in expenditure and thus necessarily
increased their operating ratios"
i It does not appear" the majority
held, that any uniform relations can
be traced between the present level
Of the operating ratio Of carriers
whose financial administration has
been culpable and Of the remaining
, carriers. Similarly instances Of not
able increases in the operating ratios
do not seem to be confined to roads
such as the Rock Island or the Frisco.
. The negative conclusion reached IN
t. 1,,,k 6pp AtSNVey