The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-01
NEW RATES ID BE
 EFFECTIVE UPON
 FIVE DAYS NOTICE
Freight Rates Advanced One-T hird, Passenger Fares One-fifth and
 Pullman One-Half
By Associated press

Washington, July 31.-Au- thorities for the railroads of the country to increase their revenues by approximately one billion and half dollars was granted today by the interstate commerce commission. Freight rates will be advanced about one-third, passenger fares one- fifth, and Pullman charges one-half.
 Coastwise and inland steamship lines and electric railways companies also were granted permission to increase their freight rates in proportion to the increases granted to the railroads serv- ing the same territory. No estimate Of the aggregate amount to result from these advances have been made. The new rates, which are to continue in force until March 1, 1922 will become effective upon five days notice by the carriers to the commission and the pub lie, and they must be in operation be- fore January 1.
 Since the government guarantee ex- pires September 1, the carriers are ex- pected to bend every effort to put the advances into effect by that date.
 Increases granted by the commis-
 sion are designed to offset the
 $6OO,OOO.OOo wage advance awarded
 by the railroad labor board, and to
 provide the 6 per cent net income in
 the aggregate value of the raisroaa
 properties as permitted under thc
 transportation act. The aggregate
 yniue of all the raiIrvaGs was esti-
 mated by tine cammission at StS,-
 000,000.o0o, agninst n book value
 of S20,040,00o,0Q0 siyer by the car-
 riers.
 FREIGHT INCREASES VARY
 The 20 per cent Iacrease tn passen- ger fares, excess baggage eAarges and i milk transportation rs tes. and the 5dJ per cent sureharge on i'usinla1 fseees authorized by the commission, win be general the country over. Freight rates increases will vary according to territory, with 40 per cent in the east 25 per cent in the south, 35 per cent in the west-that is, from the Mississippi river to the Rocky moGntainsLand 25 per cent In the Mountain Pacific terri- tory from the east of the Rockies to the Pacific coast, not including Alaska
 The commission in it's thirty-sfx page decision made no attempt to compute the amount of increased revenues the carriers would receive by reason of the rate advances. It did say, however, that the increases were justified in view of the rapidly changing conditions as to prices and the necessity for provid- ing adequate transportation facilities during and after the period of read justment.
 PROBABLE APPORTIONMENT From figures submitted to the com mission by the carriers when their ap- plieations for their increases were made, it was uuoffcially estimated that the apportionment of the advances would work out q t about $1 2S5,30O 900 on freight $23SS00, G00on passenger; s43,- 500, 900 on Pullman; Sl,500 000 on milk. and $1,40o,o00 excess baggage charges. On the same calculations. the eastern roads would get the greater part of the total increase. receiving approximately SS7S,930,000 as compared with s550,4S3,- 900 for the western lines, including those in the Mountain Pacific territory. and $135,2oS,000 for the southern car riers.
 The increased charges on freight
 alone were estimated as equaIIing
 levy of $f2 per capita per annum
 for every man, woman and child in she country, passing the nations
 tConunued on Page Three)