The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-03-05
WESTERN
8Oad viii Fight To Advance
Freight Rates

Chicago, ILL.,, March 4-Encouraged
by the success of the eastern railroads
IN their fight for an advance OF freight
rates, the big Western railroads today
vent before the Interstate Commerce
Commission here to present the new
situation in transportation on which
they base their proposed new tariffs,
materially raising the freight rates
throughout the West. Commissioners
Winthrop More Daniels will conduct
the hearing, which Is expected to
cover at least a month.
Some Of the leading attorneys of the
middle west and far west are engaged
In presenting the railroads claims.
They will have their first inning today,
and present evidence In the various
phases Of the freight situation calling
many witnesses from railroad circles
and submitting carefully prepared
statistics.
The advance IN rates was sought
last November, and the tariffs filed at
that time were to have taken effect
Dec. !. However, the Interstate Com
rnerce Commission suspended the new
rates. pending the hearing now under
way.
In q general way, the western car.
riers seek to advance rates In con-
formity with the applications of rail-
roads In all sections of the country
They are basing their claims on the
general increased cost of operating
railroads. Besides the raises I'm rates,
Which range from to 20 per cent, the
roads seek the withdrawal of impor-
sant privileges which have been gran
ted shippers without charge. The
stopping of cars in transit without
charge for loading or partial unloading
Is a vital feature Of modern shipping,
and many shippers are bitterly OPP
posed to the withdrawal of this priv.
, iiege. Grain elevation allowances at
Kansas City and elsewhere are also
withdrawn. The roads seek to charge
for returning brine In tank cars to
point of shipment after picked prod
yaots had ben removed. Such cars had
always been treated AS empties.
Among the important advances
sought by the roads are those on
grain, stone, fresh meats. coal, live.
stock, hay and cotton piece goods
A iblunket advance of one cent per
100 pounds on grain from several
thousand points In the grain belt to
Chicago, Kansas City. st. Louis and
Omaha was included in the new tar.
.ifts. This meets the opposition of the
grain shippers. who will be given op-
portunity to voice their protests. On
Fresh Meats an advance of Q cents
l pes 100 pounds IL sought. The Chi
sRgo and Omaha packers oppose this
new rate,
Railroad commissioners represent
ing the Western states petitioned for
the suspension of the new tariffs, and
as OF these commissioners met In
? Omaha In December to consider steps
FOR united action. It was decided al
that time to put the burden of proof
IN the railroads, and IL their cause
was shown 10 be just, the Western
states agreed not oppose reasonable
increase. To formulate their case tn,
states have employed accountants who
have made an analysis of railroad con
dftions from the public viewpoint
The opening Of the big hearing pro
vides four days for the presentation
ny the railroads of their general view
oi the situation which calls for greater
enumeration from freights. TheI
tho roads win get down to specia
'cases, and will tackle the grain traffic
This will take nearly n week. for IL I,
an grain that they will make thel
strongest stand, It Is believed. tha
hetng the bulk OF the western traiDc
From grain the argument will procee,
20 livestock, meats and fertilizers
then To hay and straw, and to coal
sotton goods. salt, fruit and vege
tables. The public will have It's in
7aings In about month, when shipper
and sSata commia atona viii have IN,