The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-16
The Freight Rate Matter

CONTINUED from yesterday
The thing that Is needed In the
freight rate situation tx that in the
main rates should bear Il relation
TO the market value OF the com.
modify.
A ton OF shoes is worth nominally
$4,000. a ton OF corn 500; $50 per
ton on shoes is 2 per cent OF the
value, IS per ton freight on corn
Is about 25 per cent OF the market
value.
Shoes are sold a pair at umo.
a high rate would exact a quarter
now, and another one four months
from now, from separate indiWd-
uals, and Is not enough difference
to cause people TO go barefoot.
The price Of corn Is fixed al
Liverpool by the balancing OF the
world conditions. The price In
Iowa is Liverpool minus freight
The freight rate on corn cNacts
complete tool on every bushol OF
every individual farmer. 1t Is not
divided up, Il few cents now. and
"A few cents four months from now
A high freight rate effects "a con
Centrated reduction of purchasing
power at one point, in the market
ing Of corn.
when corn is high a high freight
rate Is not unduly burdensomc. but
some measure OF flcMbility Is
needed, so that the same freight
rate charged on $3.50 corn is not
asse ssed against the farmer on his
50-cent corn.
The power OF the commissions
to regulate rates is unqucstioned at
all times, and is particularly with
respect to maximum rates, and 10
see that, even In flush times, when
everybody is grabbing, some meas
ure OF regulation Is exercised over
maximum rates.
But in depressed conditions, with
half of Europe starving, 1t wouldn't
seem improper to consider the
proposition as a merchandising
problem. The situation presents
great opportunity for a railroad
executive with commercial powers.
Suppose he would annonnce pub
licly, to all shippers on his line, ana
good for so days, a special export
rate on corn, that would represent
a fair ratio TO the going market
value of the corn.
A mixed situation would be in
stantly Crystallizcd; the foreign
purchasing commissions would sure
ly seize the opportunity; 1t would
clear out country elevators, release
frozen credit and turn the wheels
under n lot of idle cars.
The expedient of special safe
coupled with advertising Is one OF
the fundamental practices OF the
most successful merchandising
houses and industries in tho coun-
try.
a Rh
in shape to carry out the same sort
OF commercial enterprise and spirit.
IL would help out his density or
traffic. In industry we welcome
nothing more than quantity produc-
ton even at narrow price margins
IL reduces overhead ratios,
To be sure, such action would de-
yelon a lot OF Kicks. Other rail-
roads wouldn't see the sense Oh IL,
and some individuals, with port
stocks, would howl, but the general
considerations and the good OF the
country as a whole would deter
mine the value OF the action, ana
| would write my congressman 10
please change his laws so that we
could do this sort Of business ana
to change them for the GOOD OF the
people as a whole.
The only advantage in the sltua-
ton would lie with the railroad
having the best business brains on
its managing staff. Poorly orh-
cered lines would object. Com.
petitors always do when caught
To-day the law, in its present op-
Grafton, limits opportunities down
10 the level OF a set OF rules. de-
signed for all alike. Those
awake and active and those o'her-
wise, ,