Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-05
md imnoses a burden not shared by

and imposes a burden not shared by
other parts of the country. The
memorial requests that either the
Anderson scale be applied without
the IS per cent. increase or the 70
per cent. increase, if applied. be
based upon the rates as they existed
before the Anderson decision.
AS to the rates on coal, particular
attention is called to the interpreta-
ton which the railroads have placed
upon Order 20. A great deal OF the
soft coal is hauled from Southern
mines by rail to Hampton Roads,
hence by water to some port IKE
Boston or Portland. and thence
hauled by rail to destination. The
carriers have no through rates fof
this sort Of shipment and nave IN
terpreted the order of the director
general as permitting each carrier 10
make the specific advance designated
in the order. and this has resulted in
a double increase where undoupted-
" the administration intended to
provide for but one increase.
We understand that orders have
been issued by the Federal Railroad
Administration to readjuSt the tar
ifs so that but one increase Will re-
suit. but the railroads of Maine have
up to this time received from lne
Federal officials through whom the
Director General acts no lnstruc :
tons. and no adjustments have been
made. This means dealers and con-
suners who are now purchasing coat
are paying a substantial amount IN
excess of what is believed to be rea :
sonahle as freight rates. The same
situation applies to hard coal, since
this commodity when it comes all
rail is split, so far as the road is con-
cerned. at some Hudson River point,
and the double increase has thus re-
suited
Upon the subject Of the general
rate increase the suggestion is made
that proper investigation with ref
erence to the particular needs OF IN
dividual railroads has not been MADE
and that the increase will produce
| for some railroads substantially moro
! than is necessary TO enable the gov
| eminent to pay expenses OF the par
! ticular railroad and yield the stand
ard return which it Is under obll-
| cation to pay. The Maine Commls-
sion believes that this applies with
| particular force to several II not al
! Of the railroads of Maine, and tha'
/ commission especially protests
AGAINST continuance OF TINS IN
crease if 1t be found that the neces
stiles and requirements OF the gov
! eminent do not demand it.
The memorial, with exhibits, Gov
orc q printed pages and goes ver5
much into detail. The COMMISSION
has a limited number OF these print
ed COPIES and will be very gao u
furnish them upon request TO inter
ested parties as long as they are
available.
II should be understood that since
tho Federal control of the RAILROADS
schedules of rates have not been nice
with the Maine Commission. the ad-
m;nistration having ruled that sucf
filing is not necessary and that pu
one filing with the Interstate Com
marco Commission is required. we
have been furnished, simply Tor In
formation. some Of the schedules ou'
under existing circumstances are no
bile from our files to ascertain TINS
exact rate situation with reference Il
any commodity, nor to furnish the
travelling and shipping pubic an
thoritative Information which 1t has
been accustomed to secure IRON
these sources.