The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-11-28
DOES THE PUBLIC
WANT INCREASED
FREIGHT RATES?
What Return to Private Own
ership viii Mean

Robert w. Woolley. a member ot
the Interstate Commerce Commis-.
sion, calls upon the nation to be-
ware of the perils Of returning the
railroads to private ownership and
control, with the attending in
creases in freight rates which would
be demanded to pay returns to Sc
curity owners.
"Mr. Theodore Cuyler, Chairman
of the Railroad Executives, testi-
flying before the Interstate Com
merce Committee of the Senate last
winter, sounded an alarm, though
he may not have meant TO do So.
when be stated that upon the return
of the railroads to their owners it
will be necessary for the Interstate
Commerce Commission to grant a
further increase in freight rates.
said Mr.. Woolley, in a recent ad-
dress in Philadelphia.
This statement has been repeat
ed by other railroad executives and
has been much elaborated upon by
propagandists advocating the dis
continuance of Federal control.
! What the measure of this increase
may be am sure I do not know. It
seems to be generally agreed that it
will have to be at least twenty-five
per cent; some have placed it as
high as fifty per cent. In a speech
delivered at St. Louis in June last,
Director General Hines stated that
an advance of $30O,000,00O in
freight rates would be reflected in
the cost of the finished article to
the consumer of s1,500,000. In
vestigations made in normal times
amply justify such a prediction.
For instance, when an increase of
ten cents per ton was granted on an
thracite coal in 1902, the price of
ton of anthracite to the consumer
advanced fifty cents and it never
came down. An increase of twenty
five per cent in freight rates would
mean approximately 1915, ,0O0'
which the people would have to pay
the railroads, and using Mr.. Hines
ratio, $4,375, 100000, which the ul-
innate consumer would have to pay
for what he uses, eats or wears, be-
cause when he buys finished ar
ticle he pays an accumulation of in
creases.
The private control propagan-e
dists have been desperately trying
to lull the public into a belief that
the manufacturer, the jobber or the
retailer, possibly all three, would
absorb this rate increase and the
consumer not be allowed to feel it. L
don't think, in a final showdown,
the American people will stand for
such an insult to their intelligence
Figures based on Mr.. Hines state.
ment that an increase in freight
rates is reflected five-fold in the
cost Of the finished article to the
consumer show that a twenty-five
per cent increase in freight rates
he lowest figure set by private own
ers should the roads be returned
would mean that the consuming
public would have to pay yearly an
increased price for goods of S4.375,-
100000. Figuring the population
Of the United States at 100000. 900.
each person would be taxed nearly
s44 a year to perpetuate railroad
graft. The Government considers
The average family composed of five
Then the head of each
family. the wage Garner, will be
-axed over 5000 a year for the en-
-ichment OF the railroad financiers
I their program is put through.
Do YOU have a representative in.
congress? Then it's time to see
hat he really represents YOU, not
he railroad ring.
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