Omaha daily bee., 1917-03-24
RAILROADS ASK
FOR RATE RAISE
Eastern Carriers File Petition
for Freight Tariff Increase
and Western to Follow.
ASSERT THEY FACE LOSS

| washington, March So.-SeVeral o.
the country's larger railroads filed 4
petition with the Interstate Commerc,
commission late today, asking thai
they be permitted to- increase theil
rates generally, except on coal, coke
and ore and that the new tariffs be
permitted to become effective il
thirty days instead of being suspended
for investigation.
Only presidents of eastern road:
signed today's petition, but similar
action will be taken tomorrow by
more than a score of western lines.
Nothing is more essential to the
welfare of the nation" said the state
ment, than that the railroads should
be in position to respond to the fullest
demands made upon them either by
the general commerce of the country
or i'll connection with the subject of
national defense"
Text Of Petition.
The petition in behalf of the carriers
north of the Ohio and Potomac rivers
and east of the Mississippi follows:
Your petitioners on behalf of them
selves and other carriers in official
classification territory represent that
they are sustaining and are threatened
with enormous decreases in net oper-
ating income due to large increases in
wages, in the cost of fuel coal, in the
cost of other material and supplies
and equipment and in taxes; and to
increased cost Of capital.
Nothing is more essential to the
welfare of the nation than that the
railroads should be in position to re-
spond to the fullest demands made
upon them, either by the general
commerce of the country or in con-
nection with the subject of national
defense, and it is absolutely essential
to the adequate preparation of the in
dustr!al and other resources of the
country for the present crisis that the
transportation machine shall be as ef-
fcient as is humanity possible. That
cannot be done under the present rev.
enues and rates of the carriers.
More Money Needed.
"Your petitioners further represent
that the present huge increase in the
cost of railway operation has resulted
and is resulting in inadequate net
earnings and surplus, that they are
unable to. secure sufficient money TO
provide the facilities to handle the
volume OF traffic rendered to them
and that the threatened further deple-
ton of net earnings and surplus must
seriously aggrayate this condition.
Your petitioners further represent
that substantial increases in freight
rates are demanded by their financial
condition and that the emergency re-
quires that these increases should be
made in the most expeditions manner
and with the least possible delay.
IF advances in freight rates be pro-
posed and filed with the commission
in compliance with its present rules
governing the publication of tariffs
a delay of from four to six months
must necessarily ensue before such
tariff publication can be prepared and
made effective.
Commission Has Power.
"It is within the power of the COM
SO to amend its rules as to
permit the publication of fiat percent
age advances to existing tariffs and
that such supplemental tariffs could
with the consent Of the commission
be published and made effective in
less than thirty days, thus affording
the immediate relief which the emer-
gency demands.
Your petitioners recognize that
such publication would necessarily
affect to slight extent differentials
as between rate groups and it would
be their purpose if permitted to make
such tariffs effective to amend them
as soon as possible by tariff publica-
tions naming specific rates in conf
pliance with the usual rules and pre-
serving existing differentials as they
we're preserved under the order of the
commission in the 5 per cent case.
Wherefore, your petitioners re-
spectfully request that this commits
sion so amend its rules of tariff pub
lication as to permit the carriers in
official classification territory by brief
supplements TO existing tariffs to
make percentage advance in all
class and commodity rates, excepting
by bituminous coal, coke and ore,
which can be dealt with in accordance
with the present rules, and as to GER
tain of which proceedings for ad-
are now pending before the
commission and that such advances
be permitted to become effective
without suspension and if possible
upon less than thirty days notice"
At III.