Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1920-08-05
COMPLETE ALL
WITHIN MONTH
RATE INCREASES AUTHORIZED
SATURDAY
WEST IS PER CENT
Requests For Rate Hikes By Inter-
state Expected Same As
Granted BY Federal
COnmission
). (Associsssd Press,

SOnKnlSS1On
(Associassd Prsss}
Wlashingt0n, Aug. 2.-Readjust
ment of the whole rate structure o
the nations transportation system
was started today with the view t.
getting into effect by September 1.
The rate increases were authorized
last Saturday by the Interstate Com
merce Commission. While tariff ex
perts are working on the genera
rate schedules, carriers will max,
application to various state commits
sions for advance in interstate rates
to correspond with those in inter
state increases.
The requests for rate hikes by tn,
interstate commissioners, Is expected
to be the same as granted by the fed
eral commission. '.--.
Washington, Aug 2.-"Reasons
requiring an increase of interstate
rates are very persuasive of the
need for an increase in interstate
rates." declares report sent to var
ious railway state commissions by
three commission representatives who
sat in hearings on the Million and
half dollar railroad rate case.
Washington. Aug 2.-Advances
of 40 per cent in railroad freight
rates in the east, 25 per cent in the
south, 35 per cent in the west and
25 per cent in the Mountain Pacific
territory were granted by the Inter
state Commerce commission. Pass
enger fares are increased 20 per cent
which is the amount asked by the
railroads to help absorb the wage. in
crease granted by the railroad labor
board. -
In presenting their original appG-
cations for freight rate increases the
railroads contended before the Inter
state Commerce Commission that
$1,Oi7, 100000 was necessary tSsAds I
Aance their income to .the-six p3I
cent basis permitted by, the new
Transportation act. Shippers .aad
state commissions ge9etallE agHsd;
that. some advances wexe ne tessaryt
sasss. ~ s III s ISil1 -
Passenger rates, the carriers pro-
p0sed, would be. left unchanged and
their program Of advances, applicable
throughout the country, did not take
into account any later wage increases
made by the railroad labor board.
Original Demands
The advances as proposed were:
Eastern roads: 3O.4 per cent, to
yield an advance in all revenues of
21.1 per cent, or $544,O0O,000.
Western roads: 23.9 per cent to
advance all revenues II per cent or
1852, 1893, 900.
Southern roads: 30.6 per cent 10
provide 2O.7 per cent larger revenue,
or $12O,77O,O00.
Apart from these advances, 3S
roads in the southwest asked separate
treatment from the western classifi-
cation and a rate increase Of 81 8
per cent
Lister Demands
After the wage award was an
the carriers proposed to the
further increases in
freight tariffs and higher passenger
and pullman rates to absorb $685.
600, 900 additional granted the work
ers. Freight rates, they proposed,
should bear an added nine per cent
advance, amounting to 1888, ,37O,875.
AS modified finally, the carriers full
freight and switching charges as
follows:
Eastern roads: 39.75 per cent. To
yield an advance Of $726, 100000.
Western roads: 32.03 per cent. To
yield $475,OO0, 900.
Southern roads: 1891 per cent. To
yield 1854. 100000.
The carriers also proposed 20 per
cent increase in passenger rates to
Held $233, ,827,982 or $111. .66S, 1882
or eastern roads, $92, 1892, 500 for
western roads and $29,S26, ,401 for
southern roads. To provide the re-
naming $53, ,0OO, 900 to meet the
wage increase, the carriers proposed
80 per cent surcharge on parlor
md sleeping car rates to yield $43,-
,39, ,344; an increase Of 20 per cent
n excess baggage rates to yield ST. +.
L20, ,996 and an advance on milk
ates proportionate to the freight rate /,
Increase to yield $S,662, ,08O.
Setting out the necessity for the
Increase, the railroads claimed that
he net income Of an Of the coun- :
ry's roads fell from $1,056, 900, 600 :
a 1915 10 $51O, 900, 900 in 1919.
vhile their investment was increased :
aore than 50, ZOO 900, 900. Operat-
ng expenses, the roads said, have in
reased 99.1 per cent since 1915, and !.
evenues 36.37 per cent, Operating
xpenses, It was added, are now %
er cent Of the revenues, against 90 :
er cent In 1915.
o CARE FOR DUMB ANIMALS y