New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-30
Railroads Plea
For Rate Raise
Denied byL
Continued from page I
BY BRIGGS


lieve that it would be in the interests
of any one TO now resume hearings IN
detail as TO the suspended tariffs.
I'VE shall, through the medium Of
the monthly reports of the carriers,
keep in close touch with the operating
results for the future, and if II shall
develop that the fears which have
prompted the carriers are realized, or
that their realization is imminent. we
shall be ready to meet that situation
by such modification or application
OF the conclusions and orders herein
reached and entered as are SHOWN TO be
justified
First representations were made on
behalf of the Eastern carriers on March
%. This Is about the time IN each
month when the officials of the carriers
generally get the statistical returns
showing the results of operation dur
ing the preceding month. The operat-
ing results for February. 1917, may well
have startled the railway executives. be
cause. generally speaking, they were,
for the Eastern district especially. OK
tremely unfayorable. The weather con-
ditions had been severe. As a
result Of the congestion Of traffic on
Grating difficulties arising out Of the
shortage of cars, the movements of
the empty cars westward reached eN-
traordinary proportions over some
lines.
Wages an Added Burden
Because Of the severe weather con-
ditions. the expenses of the movement
were greater than usual, and. of course,
the movement of empty cars adds moth
ing to the revenues. Finally, increased
wages. directly and indirectly resulting
from legislation, first appeared on the
operating accounts of number of car
riers for the month.
These three causes, together with
increase in the cost Of materials ana
supplies. and to some extent OF iuel,
made the operating results of the East
crn carriers for February aiarmingiy
unfavorable. If these unfevorable ten
denotes had continued and the operat-
ing results for the succeeding months
had perpetuated tendencies of the
month of February. a problem very
different from that which now con-
fronts us would have been presented.
The emergency which the carriers
believed existed when these proceed
ings were initiated was attributed by
some primarily to the war in Europe.
II has not been shown that
military transportation has been in the
past. or is likely 10 be in the future. a
financial burden 10 the carriers. On
the contrary. certain facts were re-
ferred 10 which indicated that the
transportation Of troops had been more
remunerativc during certain mobiliza-
tons in the past than ordinary passen-
ger transportation. This rec
ord does not convince US that the sus-
pending or refusing 20 suspend the
proposed rates. or the granting or re-
fusing TO grant increased rates. VIII
facilitate or retard the successful prose-
cution of the war.
AN examination Of the results Of
operations during 1916 IS pictured in
the reports Of the carriers TO the COM
mission shows that that year was as a
whole more profitable Tor the carriers
than any preceding year. and II may be
assumed that they might suffer some
abatement Of the prosperity OF that
year without being crippled or in any
way iucapucita:ed.
An examination Of the operating
results of individual carriers shows
that certain Of them have lacked pros
perity. while others have been aff'uent.
The reasons for lack G: prosperity on
the part of some of them are we'll
known. The great majority OF them
show healthy condition from finan-
cial and operating standpoirts. We
must consider not only the successful
and strong. but also the unsuccessful
and the weak.
THE needs OF certain ~cak lines
however. cannot justify course OF
action chat gHwarrartod by the con-
di,Ior e iae .aIe number Of strong
and success fUi line. This record
shows that many Of the carriers are in
most prosperous condition.
THE general operating results. looked
at in the large, through series Of
years, show. on the whole. substantial
improvement, general prosperity and,
by comparison with former years. am
pie financial resources with which TO
conduct transportation.
Using the actual figures for the first
four months of the present calendar
year. u would appear that. although the
ltoss revenue for the carriers in the
Eastern d strict would exceed that for
the calendar year 1916 by approximate
Is per cent. the operating income per
milo Of road Will be but S5.sO2. as
against S7.7s2 in 1916. This is only -
per cent rs much net income per mile
Of road in 1917 for performing about
lO1 per cent OF the service performed
IN 1916.
THE returns for the first four
months Of the calendar year 1917 for
tho roads IN tho Southern distr!e. and