Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-29
FREIGHT SCHEDULE INCREASE
TO BE SOUGHT WITHIN
NEXT TEN DAYS.
ROADS OF SOUTHWEST
PLEAD NEEDS ARE GREAT
Increased Expenses Because Of Wage
Schedule Under Adamson Law Chief
Basis Of Plea - Western Lines In.
eIined Toward Horizontal Advance
Arguments Of Road Officials.

Washington. March 2s.-General ad-
vances in freight rates will be sought.
probably within the next ten days, by
railroads in every section Of the
United States. Preliminary steps were
taken by virtually all railroads con-
cerned in an informal conference with
the interstate commerce commission.
\ Definite announcement was made
that the advance asked for eastern
roads would be IS per cent on all COM
modities except ore, bituminous coal
and coke. Representatives of west
ern lines. indicated that they. too,
would ask for Is per cent.
Railroads OF the southwest sub
mitted figures showing that increases
ranging between is and 21.4 per cent
were needed. Southern railroads prob
ably will determine the percentage OF
increase desired at a conference here
next Friday. No authority will be
sought. under present proceedings, to
increase passenger fares.
Will See State Bodies.
In addition to the proceedings before
concerning interstate rates, spokesman
for the railroads let it be known that
they are preparing to go before every
state railroad and public utilities COM
mission in the union to ask for au-
thority to increase their freight tariffs
on intra state traffic.
But one dissenting voice was raised
at the conference. A. E. Helm, rep
resenting the public utilities commits
sion Of Kansas, cited figures to uphold
his contention that the railroads
emergency was not SO pressing as 1t
had been depicted and that net in
comes of the roads last year were tire
rnendously greater than the year be-
fore.
Telegraphic protests against the pro-
posed increases poured into the offices
of the commission all day.
Expenses Higher, 10 Plea.
In the case OF all railroads except
those in the south, the request for
Of the rules so as to per-
NIT prompt general advance In rates
was based primarily on the ground
that the cost Of labor, fuel. equipment
and supplies had risen to unexpected
levels and that taxes also were much
higher than last year. President Har-
rison, OF the Southern railway, speak
ing for the southern lines, declared the
roads OF his section we're prosperous
but that without an advance in rates
they could not grow"
B. F. Bush, receiver Of the Missouri
Pacific. told tho commission that UNI
less there was general advance In
freight rates. authorized by the inter-
state commerce commission and the
state commissions, there was but one
acknowledgements ownership.
Only Fair Deal Asked.
President Holden. Of the Chicago,
Burlington 4 Quincy, said that IS
per cent advance for western roads
would meet the increased cost OF op-
Grating due to higher cost Of supplies
and labor. George Stuart Patterson.
representing the eastern lines, declared
that there was no plan to advance
rates unreasonably and that all that
the railroads sought was fair treat
ment, expedited as rapidly as possible,
to enable them to meet tremendous In
creases in operating costs.
President Johnson, Of the Norfolk &
Western. emphasized In his statement
the Importance Of enabling the rail-
roads to improve their terminal and
yard facilities and prevent congestion.
On bituminous coal, coke and ore
the increases sought by the eastern
lines will be 10 cents a ton in the case
Of ore and coke and from 5 to Is cents
ton in the case Of coal. No refer
ence vas made to anthracite. and It
was assumed that the Is per cent in
crease in freight rates would apply to
that commo dity.
Horizontal Increase.
On behalf Of the western lines Mr..
Holden sought to ascertain~if the COM
mission would entertain = petition for
a horizontal increase In rates. The
commission did not indicate ITS atti-
tude on this point The western lines.
Mr.. Holden said. would promptly file
a formal petition similar to that now
before the commission in the case OF
the eastern roads, requesting q sus-
pension Of the rules to permit q gem
eral advance.
Commissioner Clements inquired II
authority should not be sought Of con-
gress, inasmuch as congress has en-
acted the Adamson law and had ap-
pointed q commission to observe its
effect on the finances Of the roads.
81 recall" replied Mr.. Johnson, that
the president Of the United States, In
addressing the joint session of con-