The sun., 1917-03-24
The Commerce Commission
Shown Need of Is to 25
Per Cent. Increase.
AMOUNT NOW UNDECIDED
Fuel and Eight Hour Day Add
$3OO.OOO.OOO a Year to Ma
tiOn's Freight Carriers.

WASHINGTON. March 23.-Eastern
railroads are about to ask for an in
crease in freight rates, except on btu
minous coal, coke and ore, as a result
OF the Adamson eight hour law decision
and the great increase in the cost o,
fuel and materials now adversely affect
ing earnings. Passenger fares would not
oe affected.
While the proposed increase has not
beer officially disclosed it will be at
least Is per cent. This will be the
largest general increase the Interstate
Commerce Commission has ever been
asked to approve. Unless it be allowed
the executives of these railroads say
they will be reduced to a worse plight
than ever before In their history
In fact SO serious do the railroad
executives who have been meeting here
now consider the situation that they took
unusual action to-day as preliminary
etep. This was to ask the commission
to eliminate the red tape which has de-
layed decision on previous applications
for many months and allow the roads 20
make application merely by filing amend
ments to existing schedules instead Of
filing complete new tariffs for each
separate rate. In a petition requesting
this they cite the national emergency as
one OF the chief reasons for setting
aside the rules heretofore followed
Nothing is more essential to the well
fare Of the nation" says the petition.
than that the railroads should be in
position to respond to the fullest de-
mands made upon them either by the
general cop1merce of the country or in
connection wiz the subject OF national
defence. and 1t is absolutely essential to
the adequate preparation Of the indus
trial and other resources of the country
for the present crisis that the transporta-
tion machine shall be as efficient as is
humanity possible. That cannot be done
under the present revenues and rates
Of the carriers"
Some Favor 20 to % p. C. Raise.
IN the Y,etition filed to-day no mention
IL made OF the amount Of the proposed
increase. This will only be disclosed
hen the amendments are filed. 1t 10 un-
derstood many of the executives are in
favor Of asking for an increase Of from
20 to % per cent In view &C the situa-
ton now existing.
The action taken to-day is the result OF
conferences which have been held here
in the last few days by presidents OF
almost every railroad in the Eastern
territory. While the proposed action
merely covers the roads east of the Mis-
sissippi and north OF the Ohio and Po-
tomac rivers. the Western and Southern
roads are about to take similar action.
In fact. plan Is on foot for joining
with the Eastern roads for a blanket in
ha Harafnfnre
the Eastern and Western roads have
acted separately.
At the conferences held here by the
railroad executives. the situation as af-
fected by the Adamson law and other
new factors, was thoroughly canvassed
1t was almost the unanimous opinion
that the railroads were facing much
greater emergency than when the last
application was made for an increase In
rates. That request was for pei
cent. increase. After a tedious progress
and hearings that lasted many months
the Eastern roads in December. 1914
were awarded what virtually amounted
to an increase Of 2ia per cent.
Expenses In sIOO.OOO.OOO.
| While the Adamson law will increase
the expenses Of the railroads to ar
, other factors are contributing to bring
/ about a situation which calls urgently
! for relief according to the railroad pres
.idents. One Of these factors on whicl
great stress is to be laid before th,
commission Is the phenomenal increase II
the cost Of fuel This. 1t Is held will
represent s2O0.O00.O00 for the railroads
As a whole, or 10 per cent of their freigh
/ receipts. The cost Of supplies has riser
| In some cases so per cent.
| Some relief would be afforded, il Ii
| contended, II their application for in
| creased payment for carrying the mail'
would be granted This would amount
| to from $4,000, 900 to $60,000.000. 1t Il
| cials have recently bestowed praise upor
the railroads for the patriotic manner II
which they yielded to the importunitie.
| Of the mediators in the recent crisis. thu
Government. it Is pointed out by som'
| of the railroad executives. has pers!s
tently refused to grant them relief OF
this kind The matter of mall charges
,s now before the commission. with thu
Government opposing the petition OF 'h'
railroads.
Petition by the RailrOpds.
The petition in behalf OF the carriers
| in official classification territory-norti
I of the Ohio and Potomac rivers and cas-
OF the Mississippi-was signed by tn,
presidents OF the Erie, Baltimore an,
Ohio, New Haven. Boston and Maine
New York Central. Pennsylvania, Lchigh
Western Maryland and New York, Ch!
cnEo and St Louis. 1t follows:
"Your petitioners on behalf OF them
selves and other carriers In official classi
fication territory represent that they ar
IA