The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-03-27
GENERAL ADVANCE IN
RATES IS WANTED At
ONCE BY RAILROADS
Practically All the Lines in the
Country Join in Request to In.
terstate Commerce Commission
for Immediate Boost.

BY Associated Press.
Washington. March 21.-Railroads
OF the south and southwest today
joined eastern and western lines in re-
questing the interstate IN com.
mission to amend ~ rules 20 a. a.
permit "A general advance In freight
rates.
Carriers In all sections OF the cour.
try are now represented IN applicn-
tions looking to a general advance.
In opening the railroads prescnta
ton OF the situation their spokesman
announced today that advances on In
trastatc as well as Interstate rate.
viii be sought.
The appearance before the com
mission OF President Harrison OF the
Southern railway. and A. r. Bush. re-.
cciNcr o. the Missouri Pacific. was the
first official %inumation that the south
crn and southwestern lines Wuuld ask
Increased rates.
Holden Opens Argument.
President Holden Of the Burlington
opened the argumcnt f6r the western
road. Mr.. Holden based his oppiica-
iion for AN increase in frrisht rates
on six grounds. as follows
Increased wages TO trainmen UNI
der the Adamson law.
Increased wages To other cm-
ployes. some already granted with
others likely 10 follow the immediate
future.
Increased cost OF locomotive fuel
coal and oil
Increased cost of materials
Increases OF price of equipmcu..
Higher taXes.'
MIR. Holden said toe roads had come
Co the interstate commerce cummIs-
sion FIRST because they lelt that
should the commission grant their pee
dtion. there would be less dinlculty Doe
obtninius authority 90 increase iutra-
state rates from the various state
state boards and commissions iuvo-v-
I'd SUch Applications he said would
follow "a ruling Ia the present instance.
The national outlook b. cluudcd
with conditions of the most serious
character" Mr.. Holder said. cot sufH
Client severity TO indicate that the
transportation machinery Of the
country must be brought To and main
tanned at the highes' possible stand
ard OF efficiency with the least posi-
Die delay.
There is a great need for more
power ana equipment. more tratkagc
and larger terminals To produc,
these IN the face ot these e|norlnou,
increases la expense requires "a sub
s.antial increase In revenues through
an increase ln rates, whereby addl-
uoual money viii bc available to pa
increased operating and maintenance
expenses aud Interest upon the new
capital which will be required To- H.
nance the improvement aud addition,
necessary
The Percentage OF Increase.
The per ccntagc Of Increase, Mr.,
Holden said. was q subject which
would yet have 20 be- determined in
this connection he declared thai re-
cent estimates liking 500 600 O0o al
the additional amount To bc paid the
railroad brothcrhouds under the
Ndam-ou law wa, inadequate and
that the amount would bc consider
ably larger than that figure.
should the country po Sec war Mr..
Holden continued. the suurc OF
The railroads. their plants and equip
mcnt would bee placed frat OF AN az
the disposal of The government. such
action. he said woulu not only dee
privc them of "a large sum IN oommcr.
riul roNcug, bun would nuke scientific
management OF tho roads Temporal
..y difficult This was another reason.
nr said why rates should Dee ady'uc.
ed. Set earnings OF western road.
which increased iu january of this
year Al. Holden added. decreased
greatly loo February uud March be-
cause of the increased cost ct tucl aUl
SUPPLE. MI. Bush told The commits.
sion that unless 10 general ad,unc,
vore'giantel and unless state author
tiles yuop'r1tcd .u advancing mtru-
state rates the uuIy alternative Na-
government uUutr-hulp.
Government Ownership.
To meet Increase Boo wages aud ma.
~trgI4ls already effective ho said od.
Nuuc,s would have fed uc made DIS thl
-Uuthv c-i,uu .uo. u- follows
Missouri Pacific, I> per cent
! frisco. go. cotton E'lt ga. NIis.
souri, Kansas 81 T,N8- 90. Chicago
I Rock Island q Pacific. lN."
fr1ufIy sfat, to }uu Mr Hu-l
-aid. "tAat q $50 cannot rci "a genera
advance ana if we cluuot get tu,
[ states 'p come, ,'uug ana -rnut 1d.
! luucc- t7,ro be- just uuc answer G.
TIL. vhola railroad situation and tina.
answer i- government ownership
tf $50 do uut ret authority 10 loo
! trtlru Tlfl- from The static tummH-