South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-24
RAILROADS ASK
FOR HIGHER RATE
Would Have Tariffs Effective
in 80 DayS-ExpenSeS
Due For Big Increase.

WASHINGTON. March 24-Sev-
eral Of the country's larger railroads
filed a petition with the interstate
commerce commission late Friday,
asking that they be permitted to in
crease their rates generally, except
on coal, coke and ore. and that the
new tariffs be permitted 10 become
effective in 80 days instead OF being
suspended for investigation. only
presidents of the eastern roads
signed Fridays petition, but similar
action will De taken Saturday by
more than a score OF western lines.
Nothing is more essential TO the
welfare of the nation" said the
statement, than that the railroads
should be in position TO respond TO
the fullest demands made upon
them either by the general COM
merce OF the country or in cOnnec-
ton with the subject Of national de-
Tense"
The petition in henalf of the car
Iiers in official classification terri
tory-north CT the Ohio and Poto-
mac rivers and east of the Missis-
sippi-was signed by the presidents
OF the Erie, Baltimore * Ohio, New
Haven, Boston & Maine. New York
Central. Pennsylvania. Lehigh.
Western Maryland. and New York,
Chicago * st. Louis. 1t follows in
part:
Ten Enormous Decreases.
Your petitioners, on behalf of
themselves and other carriers in Of
fetal classification territory repre-
sent that they are sustaining and
are threatened with enormous de-
creases in net operating income due
to large increases in wages, in the
cost of fuel coal, in the cost OF other
material and supplies and equip
ment, and in taxes. and to increased
cost of capital.
Nothing is more essential 10 the
welfare OF the nation than that the
railroads should be i'm position to
respond TO the fullest demands
made upon them, either by the gen.
eral commerce of the country, or in
connection with the subject OF ma
tional defense, and it is absolutely
essential 10 the adequate prepare
ton of the industrial and other re-
sources of the country for the pres
ent crisis that the transportation
machinery shall be as efficient as is
humanely possible. That cannot be
done under the present revenues and
rates of the carriers.
Your petitioners further repre-
sent that the present huge increase
in the cost of railway operation has
resulted and is resulting in made
quate 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 depletion of net earnings
and surplus must seriously agra
vate this condition.
Want IL without Delay.
Your petitioners further repre-
sent that substantial increases in
freight rates are imperatively de-
manded by their financial condition
and that the emergency requires that
these increases should be made IL
the most expeditions manner and
with the least possible delay.
If advances in freight rates be
proposed and filed with the commits
sion compliance with its present
rules governing the publication of
tariffs a delay of from four TO six
months must necessarily ensue be-
fore such tariff publication can be
prepared and made effective.
Your petitioners are advised that
it is within the power
of the commission TO so amend its
rules as TO permit the publication Of
fit percentage advances to existing
tariffs and that such supplementary
tariffs could with the consent of the
commission be published and made
effective in less than so days. thus
affording TIE immediate relief which
the emergency demands.