The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-06
SHALL RATES GO UP?

The interstate commerce commits
sion has thus far given prompt and
serious attention to the plea of the
railroad presidents for increased rates.
The commissioners, it is said. are
to decide at their first meeting
whether the usual course of procedure
when rates are to be changed that
of filing tariffs, entailing weary de-
lay is to prevail, or whether the sug
gestion of the roads be adopted
namely, that applications for a flat
increase of 10 or Is or rs per cent
on existing trates, shall be agreed to,
which. in whatever ratio, would fur
nish prompt relief.
The attitude of the shippers at this
time is important. Newspapers are
reporting shippers as intending to OPP
pose determinedly. But that this is
not the attitude of some of the largest
and most intelligent shippers of the
country, says the Bache Review, is
shown by a letter which has been sent
us by the president of the Crown Cork
& Seal Co. of Baltimore, J. NJ. Hood
Jr. He says that he has written to
Senator Newlands, chairman of the
joint congressional railroad commits
sion, as follows: II strongly advocate
higher rates. The railroads must have
increased development to serve the
country's needs
This attitude towards the railroad
situation, of the more broadminded
shippers, is attested also by a COM
munication to the Detroit News from
j. NJ. Mulkey, president of the Mulkey
Salt Co. of Detroit.
Mr.. Mulkey says that while much of
the prejudice that existed some years
ago, due to unfair exploiting and
wrecking of roads. has passed away.
there still exists enough to keep the
roads handicapped to such an extent
| that they are unable to keep abreast
4 of the times. the result being, he as
serts, that the railroads, as a whole,
are twenty years behind the country,
and the worst of it is he cannot see
any future for them under present
conditions. 1.-The roads need not mil
lions, but billions of dollars to put
them abreast of the times. Main line
roads that have single tracks should
| be doubled. and many double-track
roads should have four New and
tstronger bridges and additional equip
. ment should be had and larger and
4 better terminals provided.
THE money should be expended on
existing roads, as rights of way and
! terminals are too expensive to think
of building new roads. Besides, there
is no longer any inducement for capital
| 70 toll Ho vi %
Mr.. Mulkey despairs of the roads
being able to raise the enormous sums
needed to put the transportation sys-
tenn of the country upon a basis at
all adequate to care even for the pres
ent traffic. He does not believe in
government ownership. but suggests
government control under commits
sion which would have power, with the
advice of competent engineers, to I'M
dertake putting the roads on a proper
working basis; the government to sup
ply the funds or guarantee the bonds
which should draw interest not exceed
ing per cent. and be sold direct to
} investors and not thru underwriting
syndicates, thereby getting a dollar
in money at a reasonable rate of in
terest for every dollar of securities
issued; the loan to be under some form
J of government receivership and be-
/ come first lien on the properties
He believes that the billions of dollars
J needed could be easily raised in this
way
; If the roads are twenty years be-
hind the times. and of this there is