The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-11
ROADS WIN POINT In
ADVANCE RATE CASE
ReOpening Denied, but COM
merce Board Will Investi-
gate Charges on Meats.
RELIEF Is EXPECTED

WASHINGTON. Nov. 10.-The western
OF the United states have OBJ
tained a substantial concession from the
Interstate Commerce Commission In the
advance rate case.
The commission to-day denied the
petition Of these carriers for a ~reopening
of their case which was decided by the
commission last August. In tina de.
cision the commission granted the West
ern roads only about 81 SOC, 900 OF the
s7.604.000 additional revenue which was
sought through proposed increases In
freight rates.
Immediately. after the handing down
of his decision the Western carriers,
following the sue resstul example set by
the Eastern roads. asked for u rehearing.
While the commission to-day techni-
cally denies this request the decision
amounts to a reopen!ng OF about half
of the case decided against the railroads
last August. The commission announced
that while refusing TO eop the case
also settled Ii would undertake On Its
own initiative an investigation vi the
rates, rules and regulations in connec-
ton with livestock, fresh meats and
packing house products in Western
CLASSIFICATION territory.
See Hopeful sign.
Representatives OF the packers in
Washington Immediately construed this
announcement as evidence hat the
Western roads would obtain increases on
livestock, fresh meats II packing
house products. Increases on these
items were denied In the original case
and the belief expressed by representa-
.I- - $500. 49,, ..s
mission would not have consented 30 an
other investigation OF these items unless
some Increases were 10 I've granted.
How important this matter is 10 the
Western roads is indicated BY the fact
that the railroads expected in their orig
inal application TO derive 81 500, 900 in
additional revenue from increased rates
on livestock and $1,000 900 from In
creased rates on packing house products
and fresh meats.
II is apparent. therefore. that to-day's
decision opens the way 10 "A rehearinI
on about half OF the total Increases for
which the roads applied. II they Oh
tain their increases on livestock and
packing house products they will have
succeeded in getting from the commits
sion $4,000. 900 of the total OF $780,
600 for which they applied.
No Opinion Expressed.
Railroad men. while pleased over the
concession. were disappointed in Its fail
ure TO open the entire ease. The com
mission in deciding the Western advance
I rate case retrained from expressing any
opinion as to whether or not railroad
revenues wer. adequate to pay expenses
and Yield q fair return OH capital.
Railroad men in the original case con-
tended that they were not and that the
commission ought 10 decide that general
question. They We're hopeful that the
matter would be disposed OF by IL reopen
Ing OF the case.
The erstanding here il that the
commission has been influenced to a rom
siderable extent by the decidedly inn
proved earnings OF The roads in recent
months and the prospects for tremendous
croI,
The carriers were more DESTROYS OF
obtaining increases on livestock and
fresh meats and packing house products
than on any other items.
The railroads affected by the decision
include all OF those In Western trunk
line. traulsmissouri and Southwestern
| traffic committee territories. The gem
eral region In which the increases are
proposed includes the States OF Illinois.
Wisconsin. Minnesota, North Dakota.
South Dakota. Colorado. Nebraska, Iowa,
Kansas. Missouri. Arkansas. Louisiana.
Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. In
partly affected.