Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-27
Freight Rates Increased Is
Per Cent on All Steam
Lines.
STRAIGHT 3 CENT
PASSENGER FARES
State Laws Set Aside and Public 10
Taxed to Meet Increased Wage Boost
Of Railway Employees and Increased
Operating Expenses = Excursion
Rates and Mileage Abolished =
chansss in Eqeet June 10 and Is.

. Washington, May 27.-To meet wage
increa.es just announced AMI hiisihis.
cost Of coal and other supplies this
year, Director General McAdoo today
ordered freight rates In the United
States raised 25 per cent and pas
senger rates to be increased to cents
mile from the present basis of about
2k.
1t is estimated the present program
will bring between $500, 100000 and
$500, 100000 more revenue to the rail-
ways within the next year. 1t repre-
sente by far the biggest rate Increase
in Che history Of the railroads.
The freight rates become effective
June 20, and the passenger increase
will go into effect June 10. Issued under
authority granted by the railroad act
by President Wilson. acting thru the
director general. the order wipes out
all intrastate lower rates effective on
either freight or passenger traffic.
Sleeping Car Rates Boosted.
Travellers In standard sleeping OF
parlor cars are required to pay 3k
cents mile sn=sadditon to Pullman
farce and in tourist sleeping cars az
cents. Pullman rates remain the same.
Z Communication and other suburban
rates are Increased 10 per cent. Fares
on electric, and tnterurban lines are not
affected.
Special excursions. mileage, conven-
ton and tourist rates. with a few ex-
ceptions are discontinued, privileges
such as stopovers and free side trips
arc abolished, as are excess baggage
privileges.
Rates on boats on lakes and rivers
and in coastwise trade competing with
railways are to be raised proportion
ately. Export and import freight rates
are ordered cancelled and the higher
domestic rates will apply to and from
ports.
Many Rsadjustments Necessary.
A number OF fiat increases instead Of
percentage additions are ordered for
coke, coal, lumber grain. live stock,
meats, sugar. bullion and other COM
modities. Existing direrentials and
rate relationship between various
localities are to be preserved 50 far as
possible, but many readjustments will
have to be made later.
All rates are subject to review by
the interstate commerce commission.
In announcing that the increases are
required by public interest Director
General McAdoo referred to the $500.
100000 or more added to the payroll Of
railroad labor, to the rapidly rising
cost of coal, which he estimated this
year alone at $3.50. 100000 more than
last year>and to higher cost Of every
9her material entering into railroad
transportation.
To Meet Operating Expenses.
Operating expenses he estimated.
would be between SS30, ,o00,0 900 and
$3.50, 900 greater this year than the
.S2,s52, 900. 900 figure Of last year. No
part OF the Increased rates is on ac-
count of the program Of nearly ST.
0o0. 900, 900 improvements. additions
and new equipment this year. he ex-
planned.
Exceptions to the Scent rates are
made for soldiers and /sailors. who
may travel at cent q mile when on
furlough at their own expense, and
for persons attending the national en-
campment Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic at Portland. Ore, and the
United Confederate Veterans Reunion
at Tulsa, Okla. Both ORGANIZATIONS are
permitted rates of cent mile. and
for various state meetings Of the
veterans zecents will be charged.
Children Under 5 Free.
Children under. 8 years Of age will be
carried free as at present and those
between and IL will be charged half
.of the new higher fare.
'"It is earnestly hoped" said the di-
rector general, that all citizens affect
ed directly or indirectly by this in
crease will support the general prin-
ciple OF such increase as an unavoid-
able war measure and accept the addi-
tional burden In the same spirit Of self
sacrifce In which they have accepted
other inconveniences and burdens and
the grievous personal losses which are
part Of the price the nation is patri-
otics1ly paying for world liberty"
Mr. McAdoo called attention to the
fact that ''tKere is no way in which the
present increases will inure to private
profits.
..If the rates turn out to be more than
are needSds to meet the grave public
sxigency, Director General McAdoo
said, ''they will promptly be readjusted
20 q TO prevent any unnecessary
burden upon the public; but pending
such adjustment the excess. II any,
vtii bos fer the skenefit Of the people Of
!. ~ uqAl4d stAtts - whole, and not