Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-08-12
WESTERN RAILROADS GIVEN
UN|MPORTANT RATE RAISES
Advances Allowed Coal Except to South Dakota-Gran
Live Stock, Packing House Products Schedules Stand
Fruit and Vegetable Tariffs Raised

Washington. ID. c., Aug. 12.-The In
terstate Commerce commission today
gave its decision In the western freight
rate case. allowing advances in bitu-
minous coal. coke, fruit and vegetables.
and denying increases on grain, live
stock. packing house products, fertil-
izers and broom corn. The decision
allows some of the increases asked and
denies almost an equal number
The commission summarized Its de.
ctSiOn as follows:
Proposed increased carload rates
on grain and grain products con-
sidered as one commodity not JUS
titled
Proposed increase from 10000
pounds to 10000 pounds in the
minimum carload weiqht of grain
products justified.
Proposed increased carload
rates on live stock not justified.
Proposed increased carload
rates on packing house products 8
and fresh meats. except as indi q
Gated between points on tho MIST
souri, river, not justified. fEe
Proposed increased carload AZ
rates on fertilizer and fertilizer
materials not justified.
PROPOSED Increased rates on
bitunninous coal except as to
The rates on coke here proposed,
which are the same as on coal,
justified.
Proposed increased CARLOAD
rates on broom corn not justified.
Proposed increased import
rates and proposed increase in CAR
load minimum from gulf ports JUS
titled.
rates on fruit and vegetables JUS
titled.
Proposed increased carload
rates on hay and straw, whore not
"Propo.sd sss ID iss inerss:.s a. sD'.,eo: any guam
tity rates on cotton piece goods
and proposed increased carload
rates from points in Texas not
justified"
Advances insignificant.
The decision affects freight rates
mainly west of the Mississippi and in
every railroad in the United STA tea
and the commission today served no
tice of its action upon $500 large !, Al
small lines. The decision denies all tina
more important increases. The ad-
yances granted are, In the viewpoint
of the commission. of relatively little
significance.
The commission itself has no final
estimate of the amount of the increases
in dollars and cents. From various es-
Inmates of record however. made by
witnesses for both sides and based
upon the higher figures where the es-
Inmates disagreed, the following table
announced in the decision indicates
roughly the annual increase in the
raj li1pnn1 ho =,
ing allowed to go into effect;
Grain and grain products, $2940,2S7
Live stocks. s1.50O,O00.
Packing house products and fresh
meats $1,500.O00.
Coal. $1.226.122.
of $7,604,247
Dissenting reports We're filed by
Commissioners Daniels and Harlan.
Basis Of Appeal.
Differing from the attempt of the
eastern railroads to get per cent in
crease. the western roads, instead OF
asking uniform increase. singled out
particular commodities. moving MAIN
ly in carloads, and proposed specified
increases. changes affecting minimum
weights, increased charges for special
service, and increased rates on a num-
Der of miscellaneous articles They
based these claims for additional rev.
enue on the ground of financial needs.
the downward tendency of their net
earnings and because the commodities
involved do not bear their equitable
share of the burden. The state COM
missions and other bodies denied that
the financial condition of the roads
warranted increased rates.
The region more particularly affected
by the decision embraces Illinois, Wis
consin. Minnesota, the Dakotas, Colo
RADIO. Nebraska, Iowa. Kansas. Mis-
souri,. Arkansas. Louisiana. Texas.
Oklahoma. New Mexico and the coal
traffic area of Indiana, Kentucky and
Alabama.