Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-03
HOPE BOARD WILL |
REJECT PETITION
Utilities Commission Takes Proposed
Advance in Coal Freight Rates
Under Amusement.
MAYOR CARLSON MAKES PROTEST
Charges 10 Cents Increase for Rock
Island and Moline is Unjust, Tn.
fair and Discriminatory.

That there is hope that the Illinois
state public utilities commission will
refuse to grant the petition of rail
road companies asking permission to
increase freight rates on coal 10 cents
ton to Moline, Rock Island and East
Moline, and cents a ton to other
cities in the state, was the assertion
of Mayor NJ. K. Carlson of Moline who
returned today from Springfield,
where he entered an oral protest on
behalf of the city and citizens of Mo-
line against the proposed rate in
crease.
Such an increase would mean an
additional annual expense of thou
sands OF dollars to the people of Mo-
line and Rock Island as there is not a
home in the city where coal is not
used to some extent.
Dealers, naturally, would pass the
added cost to the consumer.
Rates Are Discriminating.
ne rates are unjust, unfair and
discriminatory" declared Mayor Carl
son. At Springfield Thursday. he
based his protest before the utilities
commission on these grounds.
One of the officials representign
the coal operators" said the mayor.
told the commission that even the
proposed scent increase to other
cities in the state is absolutely I'M
necessary, as freight rates on coal in
this state are already too high. and
he added that the proposed increase
OF 10 cents ton to Moline, East Mo-
line and Rock Island, is utterly alb
surd."
1t is understood that the 10 cent
increase to these cities was proposed
because of their geographical position
across the river from one of Iowa s
largest cities. Rates to Davenport
are 10 cents higher than to Illinois
cities, and the companies would even
things up by putting Moline, Rock Is
land and East Moline on the same
basis as Davenport
Outside Its jurisdiction.
The Illinois public utilities commits
sion. however, has no Jurisdiction
over Davenport rates, as that is out
side the state and comes under juris-
diction of the interstate commerce
Rock Island consumers naturally do
not think the Illinois commission
should go out of its way to protect
an Iowa city, especially when in doing
so it would place Moline, Rock Island
and Davenport under a handicap as
regards to competition with other
cities in Illinois.
1t has been pointed out that the
haul from the coal fields to Moline and
Rock Island is shorter than is the haul
from the coal fields to Chicago; vet
the proposed increase for Chicago is
only ) cents as compared with 10
cents here.
Representative Of coal operating
companies, the Chicago chamber of
commerce, and others, also appeared
before the commission q: Springfield
to protest against any increase in
coal freight rates. The Moline Man
ufacturing company, holding of the
Tri-City Railway and Light company.
was also represented. Mayor Carlson
was the only city official of anv of the
three municipalities who appeared be-
fore the commission, but a telegram
Of protest was sent by Mayor Neon
ochie and the Rock Island municipal
commission.
Flat Increase Proposed.
Manufacturers of the three cities
have had representatives before the
commission several times regarding q
proposed five per cent fiat increase in
freight rates on all commodities, but
took no part in the coal fight except
through the manufacturing company
The proposed FIVE per cent increase on
all commodities would hit the local
manufacturers far harder than an in
crease on coal rates, as this would
apply. it is understood. to shipments
of all their finished products.
The petition of the railway com
panies. in regard to both the proposed
five per cent increase on all commod-
tiles and a scent increase on the ton
on coal to all cities in the state except
Moline East Moline and Rock Island
where they seek to gain a 10-cent in
crease on the ton, has been taken un-
| der advisement by the utilities COM
mission.
$50 Black has gone west to develop
his gold mine Has he taken his wife