Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-02
RAILROADS T0ASk
| Increased RATES
Freight and Passenger Serv-
| ice Included in Proposed
| Application to |. C.. c.

The great railroad systems OF the
United States are preparing to ME
with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission applications for increased
freight and passenger rates ranging
from is to 40 per cent. While no ap-
plications have yet been filed with the
commission and none are looked tor
for at least a month. railSoad execu-
tives have been in conference with
the commission for the past month
seeking inform alton relative to the
provisions of the 1920 transportation
act and its application to the rate
ffing privileges of the roads.
These conferences. ii is said at the
commission. have not been held 70
ASCERTAIN from the commission us
views on applications to be filed by
the carriers. On the other hand. the
commission is seeking information as
riArs, which IL will use in establishing
rates to equalize the standard return
guaranteed the carriers under the
transportation act.
eoupanfea Alse Seek Information.
The railroads are under no obliga-
ton not to file application for Increased
rates before September l. when the
federal guaranty goes out OF exist
fion which will enable them TO make
their new rates fair to themselves the
commission and the public. No con-
crete plan or schedule Of tariffs has
been submitted by any railroad looking
toward increased rates. The com
mission holds the view that the roads
arc withholding applications for in
creased rates until labor troubles are
over and prices are pretty well sta
bilized so they will know just what
their outlay must be, and will file APP
phcations for rates to- cover the IN
cfeased expenditures.
Another factor entering into the
situation is that there are at pres
ent three vacancies on the commission
Tho names Of two commissioners nave
been sent to the Senate and the other
announced. The name OF RuSseli =.
l.sfingwel. assistant secretary OF the
Treasury. has been mentioned In con-
nection with the one vacancy LETT on
the commission.
Increased Wages May BE FactoE.
While the rail executives in their
conferences with the commission have
discussed railroad labor troubles, 1t
is understood in the tentative new
rates which have not as yet assumed
concrete form no consideration Is
given increased wages asked by more
than 100000 railroad employees. pend
ing since last August. If the roads
grant these increases retroactive to
March !, a very considerable addition
to the new rates may be expected.
That wage increases must be taken
into consideration in granting ms
creases to the tariffs is the view held
by some members of the commission.
When the rail union leaders presented
their application for wage Increases
last August they were asked by the
President to defer action until the
government had time to bring down
the cost Of living. In February the
men reasserted their demands and
AFTER a series Of conferences with
Director General Hines and other
government officials agreed to again
defer action =.
The recent unauthorized striks Of
switchmen Is believed to be a fare
back from the generally dissatisfied
feeling Of rail workers with their
union leaders. who they claim have
not been able to get any action on
their wage demands.