The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-21
Railroads to Petition Utilities
Commission for Raise.
Increased Cost of Operation Is
Responsible for Step.
WANT IS PER CENT ADVANCE
Adamson Law Partly RESPONSE
BILE for Conditions.
Cost of Materials and Supplies
Also Big Factor.

A petition asking a 5 per cent in
crease in intra-state freight rates be-
cause of the increased cost of railway
operation, including the Adamson law,
will be filed in a few days with the
Kansas public utilities commission by
all railroads operating in Kansas, it
was officially announced tocay- The
increase to be asked will conform with
the requested increase in interstate
rates before the interstate commerce
commission subsequent to the passage
of the Adamson law.
The petition is now being drawn.
When filed, it will be signed by the
proper officials of all Kansas railroads.
Turnout the petition the increased cost
of operation will be cited as the cause
for the application.
Increased Costs Large.
Based on the actual expenditures for
the first four months of this year, the
increased cost for 1917 over 1915 in
maintaining ard operating the Santa
Fe railway alone will be $11.131,
764.44,or 22.46 per cent, according to
J. r. Koontz. general freight agent for
the Santa Fe railway. Mr.. Koontz
has returned from appearing before
the corporation commission of New
Mexico where a hearing on a petition
identical with the one for increased
rates to be filed here was held. The
New Mexico commission permitted the
roa DIS to file intra-state tariffs advance
ing such rates 5 per cent to become
effective in thirty days.
The Adamson law is not wholly re-
sponsible for the requested increase
in rates. railroad officials here said
Among the annual increases in Santa
Fe operation pointed out by Mr..
Koontz are the following:
Adamson law, s1,467,916.44 other
l292; fuel. s2.645, $500; materials and
supplies, s5,159.1675s, and taxes,
S463, 900. In per cent of increase the
showing is 1924 per cent for material
and supplies. &c per cent for fuel,
/ 24.69 per cent for employees and 10
per cent for taxes
Have Faith in Public.
Railroads. in their petition before
the public utilities commission, will
| point out that they are not asking for
/ increased rates to cover all the in
creased cost of operating. The in
crease in the cost of living for the
railways has advanced from 20 to IS
per cent. The increase of Is per cent
for freight rates will only cover one
fourth, or less of this amount
/ We are banking on the public
| seeing the justice in our cause" said
| Mr.. KoontZ. Business men know that
\ the railroads have not yet advanced
! the price of their product on account
! of war conditions, and when we tell
them about the heavy increases in
our expenses, their own experience
will enable them to appreciate our po-
sition. Our figures are subject to
challenge by any expert"
Officials of the Santa Fe railroad
also announced here today that a sup
| plement has been filed with the in
terState commerce commission to the
petition for interstate rates. The sup
plement is an agreement on the part
| of the railroads to reduce any increase
! in freight rates granted because of
the present emergency if the cause of
/ is removed.