The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1920-08-27
RAILROADS Get
$1,500,000,0O0
Rate Increase Is Largest Ever
Allowed Lines by Commerce
Commission.
PASSENGERS TO SHARE LEVY
Boost Is Allowed to Enable Roads to
Meet Increased Cost of Oper-
alton Produced by
the War.
PASSENGERS TO SHARE LEVY


single advance of transportation rates
in the history Of government reguia-
ton was granted TO the railroads OF
the United States in a unanimous or
der of the interstate commerce com
mission. The award will increase the
annual revenue of the railroads Dy
about billion and one-half.
The increases in rates allowed 10
enable the roads to meet the Increased
cost of operation produced by the war
partly TO rehabilitate and expand
equipment and to finance the recent
SG1S,000,000 employees wage raise
are:
Western freight rates, 30 per cent.
Eastern freight rates; 40 per cent.
Mountain Pacific freight rates, %
per cent.
Southern freight rates. % per cent.
Milk rates, 20 per cent.
All passenger fares. 90 per cent.
Excess baggage charges, 20 per cent.
Pullman sleeping and parlor car
rates, % per cent surcharge.
The railroads were given substan-
tally all the increase in rates they had
requested TO enable them to earn the
512 per cent for service and an addi-
tional one-half of 1 per cent for inn
provement charges, making total or
per cent provided by the transporta-
ton act. The roads will put the in
creased rates into effect by September
!, when the six months government
guarantee period expires.
SIN view of the existing situation"
that the increased rates be made eff
fective at as early a date as prac-
ticable The increases herein ap-
proved may be made effective upon
not less than five days notice to the
commission and TO the general public
by filing and posting in the manner
prescribed in the interstate commerce
act
The authority herein granted will
not apply to any rates. fares. or
charges filed with this commission to
become effective later than January /.
1921.
Most of the factors with which we
are dealing are constantly changing.
1t is impossible to forecast with any
degree of certainty what the volume
of trade will be-
1.-THE general price level is chang
ing from month to month and from
day TO day. 1t is impracticable at this
time TO adjust all of the rates and indi-
vidual commodities. The rates TO be
established on the basis hereinbefore
approved must necessarily be subject
to such establishments as the facts
may warrant. 1t is conceded by the
carriers that establishments will be
necessary. 1t is expected that ship
pers will take these matters up in the
first instance with the carriers and
the latter will be expected to deal
promptly and effectively Herewith, TO
the end that necessary readjustments
may be made in as many instances as
practicable without appeal to us"
Washington, Aug. 4.-"Reasons re-
quiring an increase of interstate rates
are very persuasive of the need for
increase in intrastate rates." declares
a report sent TO the various state rail-
way commissions by the three repre-
sentatives of those commissions. who
sat with the interstate commerce COM
mission during public hearings on the
ST 800, 100000 railroad rate case.
REIMBURSEMENT of the whole rate
structure of the nations transporta-
ton systems has been started. with &
view to putting into effect by Septem-
Der / the freight. passenger. Pullman.
excess baggage and milk rate in
creaSeS