Norwich bulletin., 1918-05-28

Washington, May 27.-(By A. P)-I l To meet wage increases just an neunced, and higher costs of coal and other supplies this year, Director Gen. eraI McAdoo today ordered railroad | freight rates in the United States raised p per cent. and passenger fares 1 increased to three cents a mile from l the present basis of about two and one-haIf cents. ~
 l It is estimated that the programme will bring between $500, 900, 900 ana 9t0,000,000 more revenues to the rail- roads within the next year. It repre- sents by far the biggest rate increase in the history of railroads.
 The new freight charges, which cov- CT both class and commodity rates, become effective June 25, and the pas senger increase will go into effect June 10.
 I Issued under authority granted by the Railroad act to President Wilson, acting through the Director General, the orler wipes out all intrastate low CT rates effective on either freight or passenger traffic.
 Travellers in standard sleeping and parlor cars are required to pay three and one-harf cents q mile in addition . ing cars three and quarter cents. Pullman rates remain the same.
 Communication and other suburban n rates on railroads are increased 1C per cent Fares on electric interurban lines are not affected
 Special excursion, mileage, conven-
 tion, and tourist rates. with a few
 exceptions, are discontinued; privi- ' leges such as stor-oyers and free side ( trips are abolished. and excess bag. |, gage charges are increased.
 Both freight and passenger rate:
 on boat lines operated on the lakes t rivers, or coastwise by railroads 4rt = to be raised proportionately with thu | general increases.
 Export and import freight rates ar,
 ordered cancelled, and the higher do e mestic rates will apply to and iron n ports.
 o A number of flat increases. instead
 of percentage additions, are ordered
 for coal. coke, lumber, ore stone }. grain, cotton, live stock, meats, su k gar. bullion. and other commodities q Existing d;fferentials and rate re
 lationsh.ps between various localities
 are to be preserved so far as possible - but many adjustments vii; have to b d made later. All rates are subject t 1T review by the Interstate Commerc
 Commission.
 In announcing that the rate-in 0 creases are required by public inter y est, Director General McAdoo refer $ red to the S300,Oo0,00O or more adde
 to the pay rolls of railroad labor un
 der an order published today, to tn .r rapidly rising cost of coal, which. h It estimated this year alone at $160,000, n 900 more than last year, and to highe d. cost of every other material enterin
 ing expenses, he estimated, would J. between SS50, 900, 900 and SS60, 900 OO y greater this year than the $2S52 900 e 900 figure of last year.
 T. No part of the increased rates is o
 account of the programme of nearly
 billion dollars of improvements, ad l. ditions, and new equipment this yea to he explained.
 f McAdoo's Appeal to People.
 Tt is earnestly hoped said the di
 rector general, that all citizens at y- fected directly or indirectly by this in h crease of rates will support the gen k. eral principle of such increase as a s- unavoidable war measure and aceeI
 the additional burden in the sam
 spirit of self-sacrifice in which the ,- have accepted other burdens, and th =, grievous personal losses which al m parts of the price that the nation 10 periodically paying for world liberty
 MT. McAdoo called attention to tt
 fact that there is no way in whic |, the present increase will inure ,s private profit"
 -d If they turn out to be more tha ne are needed to meet the grave publ
 exigency," he added, "they wi
 promptly be readjusted so as to pre- ,n vent any unnecessary burden upon tt tb public, but pending such readjustmen as the excess, if any, will be for the bent rs fit of the people of the United Statt
 as a whole and not for the benefit
 the private railroad owners. or ''To the extent that savings can ed effected, and to the extent that II 2 duced prices for the things the raj he roads must buy can be realized, it wi
 be the purpose or the director sener
 to make, from time to time, appropr m ate reductions"
 SC Conflict With State Authorities. on The provision that intrastate rat or shall be abolished wherever substitu
 interstate rates between the san
 points exist, and that all shall he raised to a standard national lev, re, develops the first definite conflict b ht tween powers of the federal railros se administration and of the state raj or road and public utilities commission
 which heretofore have claimed excl
 sive jurisdiction over intrastate rats c- Railroad rate agents will file tarii as containing the new rates with sta ew commissions as well as the intersta It. commerce commission. but state COT g. missions are permitted no review u lst der the railroad act.
 art MT. McAdoo announced that he e
 poets the intrastate commerce COT
 mission. to review many of the ne
 schedules on complaint of shippers by other commercial interests, al nd changes will be made on the COT we missions recommendations. This - necessary to readjust the nation wi
 fabric of complicated rates, each
 terdependent on scores of others. a of so delicately adjusted in hundreds he thousands of cases that a charge of ,n- cent or two causes distinct industr to and commercial disturbances. T
 commission probably will be busy
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