The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-30
The Decision.

The decision, IN part, lo!towS ,
Only most urgent and eXtraordi-
nary Situation would Justify tariffs car,
ryIng large percentage increase 10 be-
come effective. This record does not
disclose The existence Of = situation ro-
qu:ring so heroic Il remedy.
From a technical standpoint the
quest: nu 4, issue IS nat o! Tie suspen-
sion OF the proposed Increased rates. In
substance the issue ls rchsonablencsS or
those raIes lnasmuch as q
general percentage increase is SO unde-
sirable because of its serious erect
upon commercial conditions and estao-
lished relationships. il would seem ap-
propr!ate for the carriers 10 cancel the
tariffs which we suspend herein. and
permission Is hereby accorded them 10
do 50.
The carriers we're clearly within
their rights in bringing these matters
TO our attention As they did. We do not
question their good faith in anything
they nave done in this connection. Their
action Is another evidence OF the FAR
sightedness and the sense Of responsi-
bllty in the performance Of their duties
toward the public. with which so many
of their officials are managing and adj
ministering the affairs of their reSpec-
tive properties.
"Thc things which they believed
months ago would happen have not hap
pcned. None of us knows what the flu
ture mny develop. We do not beIiere
that 4 would br in the interests or
anyone 10 now resume hearings in de-
tail as to suspended tariffs.
we shall. through the medium Of the
reports OF the carriers. keep in
close touch with the operating results
for the future. and il Il shall develop
that the fears which have prompted the
carriers are realized or that their realI-
zntInn is imminent. VIC shall be ready
. 81, nj in ~ l.
cation nr Hmplification Of the Conclu-
sions and orders herein reached and en-
tered as are shown TO be justified.
THE emergency which the curriers' he
lcvcd existed when the proceedings
were initiated. was attributed BY som"
10 the war in Europe. 1t has
not been shown that military trHnsppr-
iatinn has hreu In The past. or is likely
Ia be III tho future. Il financial burden In
h. CARRIERS. ON Tho contrary. certain
facts wcrn referred to which indicated
that the transportation Of troops had
hcen l4ore rcmunerativc during certain
in tho past than ordinary
passenger IrauSpurta ton. This
record docs: not convince us Tint ia"
nr refusing 10 suspend ih'
rates. or the granting ar r"fIs-
tnr To grant icrrnh@cd rates. will faCili-
tate ar rAtarh The successful prosccu-
ion Of the war.
I'VE are lrri Ia ilT conclusion that no
rendition of emergency exists ~ In tn"
western AMI southern rarri"rs whirh
would justify permitting a general i'll
'roaSr in iir"Er "nIcS Ia h"cnn" effective.
In The cas:rrn district increased rates
arr r"rentlv E"nn permitted to become
-f:rrtivr generally IN hituminnue coal
ok" aml iron ore. We think tina; SINH
ar incr"nsrS MA" properly hr permitted
n IN" southern district ~ coal and iron
rrc pnh la tho western district ON coal
md rnkr. This will nr"s"rv" relation
ships E"twccu tho several districts
In tho Suurh>rn district ilIn proposed
rcr.HaSc rates on coal ara on ihn hns sis
,r 1G uor cent. with MAXIMUM Of II
'cn:S Drr ton. These thrills we shall!
permit I" bernmr effective. In tn" wrsi-
,rn district tho increases arc based unnn
- per cent with minimum nf IL cents
'cr ton. These tariffs will h" suspended.
Nj Of the tariffs included IN this pro-
cooling Of tho southern carriers will he
>uSpcndcd "xcnntinE thnse applying on
'na1 coke and iron orc.
"1n connection with orr Investigation
IS to rites on hituminnus coal. certain
increased rates on biumnnus
'oal were suspended In Investigation ana
Ius pcnsion docket M. "a. Subsequent
n tho institution of that proceeding
conditions surrounding the production.
transportation and sal. Of hitnmlnons
nal became so unusual TINT the prln-
'ipal professionals h"fnro us Voluntarily
conceded thar tho conditions were All
lnrr,al and TINT tho rates might anprn-
,ria,olv hc increased. some Of Thorn.
contending that the nvisting
ella IorshipS of rates from certain roai
producing districts should he preserved.
Pending further consideration OF that
proceeding nnd Of the Instant case. the
,arrIer. nartics "a the tarlfr referred 10
postponed tn" effective date
hereof tn August I. Since that time In
,reasns have been Med tn become efec-
I've July I 70 destinations intermediate
n those covered by the tariffs Of which
nc carriers postponed the effective date