Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-22
rwallace's Farmer. ]

In our issue of last week, we spoke
of the demand Of the western railroads
for permission to advance their freight
rates. and of the campaign which they
have been carrying on thru the press
to bring about favorable public sem
timent. In an evidently inspired news
story, which appeared in one OF the Des
Moines paers a few weeks ago, 1t APP
pears that the Iowa railroads will de-
mand an advance Of half cent mile
in the passenger rate, and substan-
tial advance in freight rates. Notice
of an advance Of half cent u mile in
passenger rates from Iowa points to
Chicago was last week filed with the
interstate commerce commission.
Let us consider the proposed add
vances in Iowa alone. For the year
ending June go 1914. the passenger
revenue of the railroads in Iowa was
s27.396. 1853. Advance of half cent
a mile means an advance of 20 per
cent Twenty five per cent on the rev.
enue of the past year would be very
nearly 100000. This is the increase
which the Iowa roads asks the travel
ing public to pay each year.
For the same period. the freight
advance of 10. per cent in freight rates
would mean an additional tax Of al
most $S,O00O0O year levied on Iowa
shippers; and a 5 per cent advance
would mean half as much.
The railroads in Iowa are therefore
asking Iowa people to pay from ten
to thirteen million dollars additional
each year for their passenger and
freight service.
We are not saying now that the rail-
roads are not entitled to some adj
vance. But We do say that up to the
present time they have not made a
showing which justlfies 1t. In the
news story to which we have already
referred. reference liz made to the net
earnings in Iowa. as shown by the re-
port Of the Iowa railroad commission.
But over the signature Of all the men,
bers of the commission. the statement
is made that these figures on net earn
ings are inaccurate, and not entitled
to any consideration. 1t Is true that
at the present time the railroad bust
ness is not as profitable as 1t has been
at other times. But this Is also true
Of practically all other kinds OF bust
ness. Have we come to the time when
we are ready to adopt the public policy
of helping out the railroads by permit
ting them to advance their rates when
ever poor business comes? II so, are
the railroads to be the only ones
favored in this way? Can not the
farmer with as much reason ask help
on the same theory? And the banker?
And the manufacturer? Where are we
going to draw the line? Shall we be
good fellows to the railroads only?
Everyone recognizes the important
part the railroads occupy in our bust
ness structure. Everyone comedies
that they must be paid adequate pas
senger and freight rates IL they are to
serve us satisfactory. Everyone will
gladly pay as much for their services
as will enable them to maintain equip
ment amply sufficient to give first
class service. pay their men good
! wages. keep their road beds and
improvements, lay aside necessary
funds for depreciation. and in addition
yield them a fair rate Of interest on
the actual value Of the property. There
is no argument on these matters.
But how are we to determine what
are fair passenger and freight rates
In the beginning of the business. rates
were fixed by the railroad manage
, ment according to their own notions.
The only basis was what the traffic
| would bear. Some communities had
! better rates than others. Some kinds
Of business had better rates than
| others. Some shippers were given lower
rates than other shippers of the same
kind of stuff There we're special
rates. rebates, and favorttism Of Ill
kinds.
After a time the public began to
take notice OF these abuses and as
serted its right to regulate thru its
law making and law administering
bodies. Railroad commissions were
created in the states, and the inter-
state commerce commission in the
nation and these bodies were given
authority over rates, subject to con-
gress and state Legislatures. Then
began the task Of removing discrimi-
nations, ironing out the Inequalities
Shippers went to these commissions
for relief and In some measure have
|been getting Il. DISCRIMINATORY be-
tween shippers and between icomrauni.
| ties have to some small extent beer
/ removed. Rates on commodities ir
one section have here and there beer
revised 90 that they hear some. fela.
1 ton ossfntss on the Ssszse c0t5sT1s5di.
4 ties in. other sections Whees tircum:
stances. and sconditlons arc 'abG(At thu
sAulAs sNGslk 1h1 asD1aa aorre ~,