Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-11-19
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RATE ADVANCE PLEA
Will Ask for Additional In
crease on Class and Com.
modify Freight
ARE WORRIED BY
COST OF LABOR

WASHINGTON, Nov. i9-The East
ern railroads, when they made their
nnal plea before the Interstate Com
merce Commission today in the compile
tIon Of the IS per cent. rate case, in
formed the commission Of the addi-
tlonal relief necessary to enable them
to maintain their properties and their
credit during the war. The executives
OF all Of the big Eastern roads have
been in conference for several days and
an additional Increase on class and COM
modify freight rates viii be asked, as
well as an Increase on coal, coke and
ore.
The last increase granted by the
commission yielded about S69,0OO,0OO a
year and the rates now being consid-
cred will raise this TO si55.0O00OO
These figures make the rate increases
already given amount Of SO per cent
on revenue from freight and the in
creases now under consideration will
add 40 per cent, making the total adj
vance only 1874 per cent In freight
revenues.
The railroads will assert that Si55,
100000 additional revenue from freight
will account for only little more than
half Of the increased operating costs,
chargeable 10 wage increases, materials
and locomotive fuel The rise I'm the
price Of bituminOus coal alone 10 Will
be shown, has added Ss60O00O0 TO the
operating expenses of the Eastern
roads. The higher cost Of steel, copper
and other materials has added about
se9.O00,O00 making the total increased
operating expenses S27S,0O0000 These
figures were obtained today from an
authoritative source.
The roads are principally worried
over labor cost, which is the most I'M
certain factor with which they have
10 deal now. Rate increases in the
past have been absorbed by advanced
wages of railroad employees in the last
few months. The Adamson law, the
railroads will argue, has required the
roads to pay out S36,0O0000 additional
a year to Eastern trainmen, while Co.,
900 other employees have received wage
Increases amounting TO s670OOOO
AS two of the railroad br0therhoods
have prepared demands which would
add S4S000.OO0 to the cost Of operating
the railroads, the railroad executives
believe that the engineers and tiremen
would Immediately follow the example
Of the other employees II the latter's
additional demands for pay are granted
A statement OF the general policy OF
the Administration with relation to the
wage demand Of the railroad employees
Is expected TO follow the conference
Thursday between the President ant
the heads Of the four brotherhoods.
The White House Is In possession @
information showing that the averag
earnings OF train employees last yea
on all American roads was 1874. tn
advances under the Adamson law hay
raised this average TO $3.50. Thos
figures VIII be taken into considera
tion in framing the policy, II is under
stood
Several Of the railroad executive
now here believe that Government
regulation Of wages OF railroad EN-
ployes during the period Of the wa
should be adopted The example Sc
by England is taken TO illustrate thu
method desired to help stabilize th'
industry here during the war. Their
the Government has granted a specia
war bonus Of IS shillings a week to al
railroad employees and the employees
organizations have given assurance
that no demands for higher pay VIII b.
made while the war lasts.