The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-12-17
LOWER RATES NO
PANACEA FOR ILLS
OF TRADE WORLD
Santa Fe Vice President
Tells Commission Re
ductions Fail to Pro-
vide Expected Stimu-
liant.

AoAats
WASHINGTON, q. T.. Dec. H.
Freight rate changes since August,
1890. and the proposed reductions on
grain and grain products mean "a
saving to western shippers Uf Ss2-
500. 900 on years tonnage, and "A
corresponding loss to The western rail
roads, according to the testimony Cf
Edward Chambers, vice-presdeut of
the Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe
ailway company, given TO the inter-
state commerce commission today In
the case initiated by the commission
to obtain facts about the general rail
road situation.
MIR. Chambers represented the 30
lines OF western classification terri
tory in presenting the features Of the
case having to do with traffic as called
for by the commissions questionnniro.
Hc supported his statements by do
tailed exhibits, with references to
which he invited a searching cross
examination.
Using the tonnage for the year end
ing September 80. 1921. as a basis,
the reduction in gross freight rcve-
nue. of the 35 western lines resulting
from rate changes approNimhted SdI-
500. .uO0. the witness testified. on
the same basis. he said, the proposed
ten per cent reduction on grain and
grain products would approximate
$4,000. 900. making the annual ag-
gregate OF SS2.bO0,000.
Answering tho question. Are rates
on specified commodities or descrlp-
tions Of traffic reasonablc2' p Mr.
Chambers said they were. assuming
that the question WIS Intended to
deal with rates In the aggregate and
not with specific individual rates or
given commodity or class, The
basis for the present rates. he cN-
planned. was established originally
by voluntary action Of the carriers
or by the Interstate commerce com
mission. or by state commissions, and
the rates reflect the horizontal ud-
vnnces authorized by general ordc-
number eS and eN pnrtc number -.
with reference to pRssc ger rates,
he said that reduction In the pres
cnt basis would not stimulate traffic
to the extent that the possible in
crease in travel woIld offset the
| losses in revenue that would result
| from such a reduction,
Defends Sleeping Car Surchargo.
The witness explained the necessity
| of the surChnrgc In sleepiug aud par
| lor ears 10y showing that average Load
/ in such ears Is % persons, while the
I average for coaches iE %. The aV'
erHgc coach weighs 100000 pounds
| while sleeping and purlor cars weigh
| from zoe OOO to $50 .0eO pounds. Ir
! other words the railroads carry
! about gh. 900 pounds Of weight pei
! slcoplrp car or pnrlor-"ar passenger
md $4,000 pounds uor coach passcn
ger: therefore. to bring about a con
diiion where slo"ping and pnrlor-cn
passengers would pay their propc
share Of tho transportation cost,
| Of htTl OF
cent per mile was made or one hal
Of the charge Tor sleeping or pnrl"r
| car accommodation II IL n trans
ifortntion charge separate from tn
rhnrgc for sleeping or parlor-cnr nc
Communications. and tho revenue ~
crucs entirely 80 the railro1d'
sleeping mr. pnrlpr-cnr passengers ar
less than Hvc por cent of the tot1
number carried II was shown,
There nave boon no important iu
crcases in freight rates and non
Whatever In pnsscngor fares. In west
orn territory ahoy" the Increase J.
1920. MIR Chambers mid. on III
other hand nc asserted. there hay
heau a grcnt many changes In Ind
b ,idual freight rates and some change
In sets Of rates ana practically all q
ihom have been downward maxim
n reduction In gross freight rovcnu
| IN yenr nf S37 500 600. Some &
tho reductions are duo to r"ndiusl
mCnts: some 20 restoration of forW'
r relationship ana others 10 tho usu'
) reasons which always have CONTROL"
In tho making ~ freight rates Tho
. nro the results NJ every day c1nsi
Z orptInns hy freight traffic officer
Z md I'm some instances hv orders
= the Interstate commerce CoumiSslol
y Sces Grain cut A. Contribution
rcEnrdirr tho proposcd ten ~
\ cent reduction NJ grain and grtl
producta. which would cost the ives
crn railroads st5.o00.oOo, tho wiiuo
f, said tho proposition was not wa
- rautcd by tho financial condition
tho carriers. but 10 was made hochu'
Of tho dire need of the agriculture
e Industry Tho western lines. he sal
-ro willing 10 nuke contribution
that cNtont toward tho anticipated r.
70 hnhilithtiou of that Industry
" In keeping with the practice m
existed when the basic passenger IA
was three cents mile or less NJ
Il chambers said that carriers hn'
II continued the policy OF making co
crs-inus Tor seasonal excursions 60
oring practically the entire counir
Ha Tor instance summer or winl
| oyrursiou fares 10 the Pacific coH'
Colorado. J-tah, New Mexico TcNa
Isloridn. Minnesota Michigan. WI
consin etc To Atlantic coast g.
sorts and to national parks. the ha.
rnr GUNNER excursion fares general
has been "a fare and a third, yicldu
tppruNimntely - cents per mil
II however the rate FOR tho Gral
II Army Of the Republic. the Unit
II Confederate Veterans ana the Am.
ican Legion has been one cent mi
which h not suuicicnt to pav tho cf
~ tho service Mr. Chambers ~,
II The carriers ng matter of pub