The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-14
Dominion Governments De-
cisiOn to Be Forthcoming
Within Short Time
FIGURE ON FIFTEEN
PER CENT INCREASE
Opponents Unable to Procure Argu-
ments Against Rapidly Increasing
Costs-Talk of appropriation of the
Grand Trunk Lines.

MONTRAEL, March 14-As the
time draws near for the Dominion gov
to make its decision in the
railway rate case each day strength
ems the belief of the financial com
that the railways will get the
full Is per cent increase awarded them
by the board of railway commissioners
The opponents of the railways have
not apparently been able to produce
strong new arguments or reasons why
the rapidly increasing costs of the
transportation companies should not
find reflection in the prices charged by
them for their services. and some of
the newspapers which have been
against the award now state that 1t is
Hkel; to be put into effect with the
proviso that Canadian Pacific s extra
earnings will be largely diverted to
the public treasury
This latter consideration has prob
ably had its influence in preventing APP
probation in the market value of
Canadian Pacific stock. The market
has doubtless taken the view that the
rate increase, if granted, would prob
ably not serve to expand Canadian
Pacific S surplus. This view may or
may not be correct, but in any event
the increased revenue will be avail
able for offsetting the larger operat-
ing and maintenance expenses, and the
chances are that the company will be
allowed to put part thereof into nee
essary improvements. A 10 per cent
rate increase should suffice to enable
the G. p. R. to report for 1918 an OPP
Grating surplus equal to that of 1917
providing the crop results in western
! Canada this year are fairly satisfac-
J tory. That in itself should be q ia
vorable factor from the market point
of view. It should also enable the
! Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk
TO strengthen their positions.
' Az regards naturalization il is i'm.
possible as vet to say what will be the
prepondcrating sentiment OF the newly
elected parliament. which meets next
I Monday, Many of the Western mem
bers are believed to favor rattle,
complete naturalization Of the railway
systems, and it remains to be seer
whether they will get substantial sup
port in the East. So far as the cabine
is concerned the conservative business
and financial interests have observed
with much satisfaction the recent in
dications that it is Offering resistanc,
to the elements which have been try
ing to stampede it into undertaken,
vast new responsibilities in connection
with railway ownership and control
Apparently the government s pres
emit program is to complete the acquisi
ton of the Canadian Northern whe
the board of arbitration shall have ren
dcred its report as TO the price to b
paid for the stock, and meantime {
negotiate with the British holders o
Grand Trunk securities for the trans
fer of their interests. This involve
considerable delay, affording time 70
reflection, and is therefore distastefr
20 the opponents of quick fire hit Q
miss action. Some of them hay
pressed for appropriation of the Gran
Trunk lines; and when the goyernmen
: explains that difficulties would arise
connection with the appropriation c
the part of the Grand Trunk living
the United States they suggest tina
the Canadian part of the system coul
e be appropriated and then the BIRTHS
proprietorS would be ready enough {
a sell the foreign sections.
It However, it is not expected that sue
/ unfair propositions will get any hea
ing. The government recognizes thu
: in occurring its railway systems
must give the British, American an
other foreign holders of the railwa
securities square deal. Otherwi,
the Dominion could not hope to dra
new capital from abroad in sufficiel
quantities to insure satisfactory &C
monte development after the war. Anne
lean holdings of Canadian Norther
! bonds are mostly Dominion guarantee
> and of course when the DOMINION 20