The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-30

Mr.. Hines said that while the
railroads shared in the inflated pros
perity of 1916, expenses that year
were not materially increased, due to
the fact that contracts made the pre-
ceeding year covered supplies. mate
rial and fuel. Those contracts made
when prices were low. have expired
and some of the roads face the neces-
sity of paying nearly 25 per cent more
for fuel SO to rs per cent more for
material and supplies and from IS to
100 per cent more for cars and loco
motives. Taxes are another reason
for increased rates, he said. They
too have increased. The Santa Fe
director pointed out that the railroads
of this country must have, at least, a
billion dollars net revenue in order to
pay dividends of 6 per cent on the
amount invested.
The Santa Fe is among the roads
petitioning for a rate increase
Situation Serious.
1.-The situation which the roads find
themselves in is serious Mr.. Hines
said. Without an increase in re-
venue it is hard to say what the out
come will be. Even roads now sup
posed to be prosperous and strong will
face a serious crisis and the effect on
the weaker roads will be much more
serious
Mr.. Hines is a strong advocate of
abolishing the dual system of rail-
road control. He expressed hope here
today that the joint congressional
committee now investigating the con-
ditions brought about by the system
will see fit to abolish it.
What would you suggest as the
proper system of control?"
"A central commission at Washing
ton with regional commissions. the
latter under the supervision of the
former"
what do you think of the sug-
gestion of President Bierd of the Chi
cago & Alton railway, that com
mission be established on the prin
ciple of the supreme court having
twelve or more members with all
classes of industries represented ~
L haven't given such an idea much
thought but 1 do believe that all the
people should be represented on such
a board-the shipper. farmer, rail-
roads, wholesaler, retailer and the
rest"
Members of the commission advo-
Gated by Mr.. Bierd would be appoint
ed for life by the president or con-
gress. as are the judges of the SUI
preme court
Cause of Car Shortage.
Mr.. Hines said that one of the
causes of the car shortage here arose
from dual control Three states along
the eastern seaboard. where thousands
of cars are congested. recently passed
full crew laws, he pointed out, dis
couraging the roads from enlarging
terminals and this failure to enlarge
terminals increased the congestion.
The car situation in the east is so
that the cars congested cannot be I'M
loaded and returned to western roads
and the yards are SO full other cars
cannot be brought in. Not long ago
hundreds of western ars-loaded
with foodstuffs- being held in
western terminals because there
wasn't room for them in eastern
yards where they were consigned.
Following his address here at the
Chamber of Commerce today Mr.
Hines left for Atchison where he will
speak tonight. He will talk before
the Commerce club in st. Joseph Sat
urday noon.
A number of Santa Fee officials from
Topeka will go to St. Joseph with
the chairman. They include +. c.
Fox, general manager; E. Raymond.
general superintendent; j. r. Koontz,
general freight agent; j. NJ Connell,
general passenger agent; r. A. Rut-
ledge. chief engineer: J. f. farrell.