Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-12-16

The report given out a month ago,
to the effect that the coal rate contest
had ended with the refusal OF the
Chesapeake e. Ohio Railway to join in
the rate agreements, turns out to have
been false hope.
No sooner was this act of the Exec
utive Committee of the Chesapeake &
Ohio made known, than a meeting OF
the executive heads of the Pennsylva
nit Lines, the Chesapeake e. Ohio Rail
way, the B. & o. Ry., the N & w
Ry, and the l.. & N Ry. was called for
New York City, where they were join
ed in conference by representatives
OF strong financial interests The
outcome of the conference was that
the Chesapeake & Ohio was induced
to withdraw from its announced atti.
tude and agree to join the other rail
roads in fling new tariffs, with ad.
yanced rates, to the Interstate Com
MERGE Commission
As the dispatches. published at the
time, reported, the C. & o. held out
against the rate increase unti the
Pennsylvania Lines agreed to file new
tariffs Increasing it's rates 10 CORE
spond with the increases formerly pro
posed for the West Virginia coal car
rying roads
The situation, so far as il affects
West Virginia and her coal industry
has not been benefited by the new
status in the slightest 1t is not en-
tirely certain that the new proposition
has not made bad prospect worse
The Pennsylvania Lines apparently
DO not go into the contest for ad
vanced rates in good faith, They
merely project themselves into the
lineup for the purpose Of inducing an
other important carrier to become a
part OF its own scheme The Pennsyl
vania does not want its own rates in
creased. Had it SO wished, il would
have proposed increased rates at the
earlier date. when ii induced the N
& w. and other West Virginia roads ID
give notice to their shippers that they
would increase their rates. They are
In the rateincreasirg game temporar
ily only, to satisfy the demand OF the
G. & O.
Not wanting its rates increased, il
can not be imagined that the Penn
sylvsnia Lines will vigorously press
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission any such demand. And even
If it Should honestly and vigorously
contend for the increase. it is incon.
ceiyable that the Interstate Commerce
Commission would find the demand
justifable. Or, even in the event that
the Commission should grant the in
crease upon the request of the Penn
svlvania, there is not the slightest
guarantee that the Pennsylvania would
male them effective. The Pennsyiva-
MA has less claim for increased rates
for carrying coal into Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois than any Of the other rail-
roads entering into the rate-raising en-
terprise Which fact will doubtless be
urged with much force by shippers on
Ike Pennsylvania Lines.
BY agreeing to join in the request
for higher rates the Pennsylvania has
gained its point. 1t has committed the
G. & O. to its own scheme TO boom the
coal business outside of West Virginia
and bust it inside our state II has
several chances to lose before the
Commerce Commission as to its own
increase of rates, all Of which chances
II will doubtless, cunningly promote.
But, should it win bogus victory, II
Fan throw it's fruits to the winds at
my moment il may choose to do so.
BE it understood that a decree Of the
Commission, permitting the railroad to
Increase a rate, does not operate as an
obligation upon the railroad to put ii
into effect. AS. for instance, the N. &
W was granted the right to increase
It's rates on coal to the North, several
years ago, in a similar proceeding,
while the other West Virginia roads
we're denied the right AS a conse-
luence, the n & W. did not avail
itself OF the right granted, but main
tanned its old rates
Let It be understood by the people
IF West Virginia, who are SO vitallv
Interested in this rate proceeding, that
The Pennsylvania Railroad does not de
sire that its rates on coal to points
IN Chic, Indiana and Michigan SHAH be
Judging from the stand
point of the interest of the PeHnsyiva-
MIA, It wants its own rates to remain
as they are. while those of the West
Virginia roads carrying coal to The
same points shall be raised The coal
operators of West Virginia understood
the whole scheme to be one OF the
PENNSYLVANIA making, to do exactly
that thing.
It is well enough understood BY az
concerned that, with the proposed new
rates in effect, West Virginia ccal can
not compete in the markets affected
b. the increase. Is thst fact Of amy
concern to the railroads that are pro
posing the increased rates?
The railroads are not pronosine m
Increase on coal corasa' ed to G'resa
natl. Indiana nn1is ar fHiq5 ~ Ger