The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1920-08-13
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.

washington, Aug. 3.-The greatest
single advance Of transportation rates
in the history of government regula-
ton was granted to the railroads or
the United States In n unanimous or
der Of the interstate commerce COM
mission. The award will increase the
annual revenue OF the railroads oy
about n billion and one-half.
The increases in rates allowed to
enable the roads to meet the increased
cost of operation produced by the war
partly To rehabilltate and expand
equipment and to finance the recent
$G1S,00o.0o0 employees wage raise.
are:
Western freight rates, 80 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. 20 per cent
Excess baggage charges. 20 per cent.
Pullman sleeping and parlor car
rates. 80 per cent surcharge.
The railroads were> given substan-
TALLY all the increase in rates they had
requested to enable them to earn the
| 51a per cent for service and an addi-
tonal one-half of 1 per cent for I'M
provement charges, making n total or
q per cent provided by the transporta-
ton act. The roads will put the in
/ rot tint off hx-S
L, when the six months government
guarantee period expires.
I'm view of the existing situation.
says the commission. at is important
| that the increased rates be made eff
fective at as early q date as prac-
ticable. The increases herein ap-
| proved may be made effective upon
not less than five days notice to the
commission and 10 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 l.
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.
THE general price level is chang
! ing from month to month and from
oay 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 readjustments 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 u.s."
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
| $1,000, 100000 railroad rate case.
REIMBURSEMENT of the whole rate
structure of the nations transporta-
ton systems has been started. with a
view to putting into effect by Septem-
Der ] the freight, passenger, Pullman.
excess baggage and milk rate in
creaSeS.