The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-12-19
Do Railroads
Propose War
On Interior2
tHpokane spokesman- Hooiew.)

-
rhe trnnscentinentai railroads are
| asking the Interstate commerce com
mission for authority to slash freight
rates to the Pacific coast terminals,
while at the SANG time Keeping up
war-ume freight fAtes 10 ali parts Of
the Interior. a series Of hearings
before an examiner 81 the commis-
sion y now I E%rosses, ,ea The H Hss'
Ia, and the nat scheduled hearing IL
FOR New York, Jan. IL. other hear
ings have been held. OF VIII 10 held,
at Denver, Helena, Salt Lake, Boise,
spokane. Portland, san francisco.
Reno, Atlanta. Ga, and New ORLEANS,
NJ the interstate commission should
grant the application Of the railroads.
the whole interior country would
suffer- a staggaring blow and It's future
growth DO retarded i~ncalculably.
As no great manufacturing concern
could continue TO pay wartime wages
while It's competitors were allowed
10 cut their vases TO n peaceftime
basis, No no community could go on
/ prospecting II Il should be compelled
10 pay wartime freight rates while
tts competitors we're allowed. even In
large part to return pre-war freight
rates.
Between June 81. 1915. and Sept.
I 1880. the railroads OF the United
States were permitted 4 o make four
| general Increases In freight rates.
These increases. according To the
bureau OF railway economies. totaled
on the average rs per rent In 1891
over 1915. ~ the tranacontlncntal
roads are given permission by the "a
torstate commerce commission. they
will maintain tnase excessive rates all
AaHaW N1aA 4aNAE4aa IUaN 81 Ul- go.
time viii reduce terminal rates from
20 to 80 per cent.
The gross injustice OF that proposi-
ton requires no argument
Moreover. Il Is a wrong national
policy. The railroads are proposing
these low rates ai the terminals In a
purpose TO engage In a rate war with
the shipa. The Amazing spectacle Is
thus presented OF the owners OF the
privately owned railroads going he
fore n public agency. the Interstate
commerce commission. asking for
authority TO engage In a ruinous rate
war with the saips OF the American
merchant marine built and owned
BY the American people at the
enormous outlay OF nearly $4,000
O00, 000.
No sound reason can be advanced
why tht American people should al
low h railroads 20 drive their ships
on the Hcas 1r out OF the harbors.
Quite to IA contrary, II Will be sound
national policy to make the fullest
utilization OF tile transportation SER
vices OF the nation. the ships as well
as me railroads, and not allow one
10 destroy the other.
The sooner the natural div.sion 81
service between the railroads and
the ships IA brought about, stablIizad
ana protected 10y law. the better will
Il be ia the long run for the railroads
and the nation. II a part OF the
transportation service across the
American continent can be more
economically performed by the rail.
roads. they are entitled TO lake tint
service.
IL ia eaually true that n , mar, N,
tho transnoriatIon scr.tcc ba, wao,
the cast and ,yest coasts or 40 Ifrt,ee
states can be more o-eonomicsnv no..
formed by the shlps' n win he 4,
the national interest," ia ALLOW tb.
shipH to render maj service "
Tho prosenf law iavs 400, IA.
l.awN .a. .HH "