Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-06-04
RIG INCREASE IN
RAIL RATES MADE
Freight Tariffs Are Raised rs
Per Cent by McAdoo.
PASSENGER FARES UP ALSO
Order of Director General Follows
Closely After Granting of Pay
Raise to 100000 Employ
ees of Roads.

SeS OF hodoS.
Washington.-To meet wage increaS
es just announced, and higher costs Of
coal and other supplies this year Di
rector General McAdoo has ordered
railroad freight rates in the United
States raised % per cent and passenger
fares increased to cents a mile from
the present basis of about 212 cents
1t is estimated that the program vii
bring between $S00000,000 and $500,
100000 more revenues to the railroad;
within the next year. 1t represent:
by far the biggest rate increase in the
history of railroads.
The new freight charges, which
cover both class and commodity rates
become effective June % and the pas
scnger increase will go into effect June
10.
Issued under authority granted by
the railroad act to President Wilson
acting through the director general
the order wipes out all interstate lower
rates effective on either freight or pas
senger traffic
Travellers in standard sleeping and
parlor cars are required to pay 34s
cents a mile in addition to Pullman
fares and in tourist sleeping cars 3A
cents. Pullman rates remain the same
Communication and other suburban
rates on railroads are increased 10 per
cent. Fares on electric interurban
lines are not affected.
Special Rates Abolished.
Special excursion, mileage conven-
ton and tourist rates, with a few ex-
ceptions, are discontinued, privileges
such as stOp-Overs and free side trips
are abolished and excess baggage
charges are increased.
Both freight and passenger rates on
boat lines operated on the lakes, rivers
or cOastwise by railroads are to be
raised proportionately with the gener-
al increases.
Export and import freight rates are
ordered Cancelled and the higher do
nestle rates will apply to and from
ports.
A number Of fiat increases, instead
of percentage additions, are ordered
for coal, coke, lumber, ore, stone, grain,
cotton, live stock, meats, sugar, bullion
and other commodities.
Coal Costs $16o,0oO,Oo0 More.
In announcing that the rate increases
are required by public interest, Direc-
tor General McAdoo referred to the
rapidly rising cost of coal, which he eS-
timated this year alone at $1600O0,0 600
more than last year, and to higher cost
of every other material entering into
railroad transportation. Operating ex-
penSeS, he estimated, would be be-
tween $S30,000,000 and $S60OOO,00O
greater this year than the $2,S52,O OO,-
600 figure of last year.
No part of the increased rates is on
account of the program of nearly a
billion dollars of improvements, addi-
tons and new equipment this year, he
explained.
1t is earnestly hoped" said the di.
rector general, that all citizens affect
ed directly or indirectly by this increase
of rates will support the general prin
ciple of such increase as an unayoid,
able war measure and accept the ad
ditional burden in the same spirit OF
self-sacritice in which they have &C.
cepted other Inconvenience and bur.
dens and the grievouS personal losses
which are part of the price that the
nation is periodically paying for world
liberty"
Mr.. McAdoo called attention to the
fact that there is no way in which the
present increases will lure to private
profit"
Profits Go Back to People.
IF they turn out to be more than are
needed TO meet the grave public ext
gency," he added, they will promptly
be readjuSted so as to prevent any un
necessary burden upon the public, bu
pending such REIMBURSEMENT, the ex
cess, if any, will be for the benefit O,
the people of the United States as
whole and not for the benefit of tn,
private railroad owners of any of them
ITO the extent that savings can b,
effected and to the extent that re
duced prices for the things the rail
roads must buy can be realized. it will
be the purpose of the director genera
TO make from time to time appropriat,
reductions
The provision that interstate rate.
shall be abolished wherever substi
tute interstate rates between tn,
same points exist and that all shall h,
raised to n standard national level. de
vei0pS the first definite conflict he
tween powers of the federal rail
road administration and of the stat,
railroad and public utilities commits
slOnS which, heretofore have claimed
exclusive jurisdiction over inter
state rates. Railroad rate agent.
will file tariffs containing the new
rates with state commissions as wei
as with the interstate commerce com
mission, bur state commissions are per
mitted no review under the RAILROAD
act.
Low Rate for Veterans.
Exceptions to the three-cent rate ar,
made for soldiers and sailors, VIII,
may travel ut one cent a mile wher
on THROUGH at their own expense an,
Tor persons attending the national on