South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-29
HEARING MAY HAVE
BEARING ON RAIL
RATES IN INDIANA
l.. X. Martin Discusses Situa.
tion-Says Shippers
Must Act Now.

Will freight and passenger rates
be reduced by railroads operating
/ through South Bend IN the near fu-
ture? That is the question engag-
/ ing the attention OF local clippers
and the passenger travelling public.
No intimation OF a prospective re-
duction in existing freight and pas
senger charges has been forthcom-
/ ing from Washington, but announce
ment Monday that a general inquiry
viii be made into rates, fares and
charges by the interstate commerce
commission IN Washington on Dec.
IA, leads many to believe the time
for a general curtailment Of present
rates is at hand.
The inquiry has been called 10 de-
termine whether and to what extent
further general reductions in rates
can be made. II is possible several
local Industrial leaders will attend
the inquiry, II was learned Monday
In conference with Off Gals Of the
/ Chamber OF Commerce, l.. r. Mar
tin. traffic manager of the oliver
Chilled Plow works, gave an inter-
esting estimate OF the genera! situa-
ton in this territory He said:
The commission has ordered
an investigation shall be held
at Washington. d. c.. Dec. IA, 10 in
quire into the possibility Of reduc-
ing transportation charges generally
without depicting the carriers rev.
enue to an extent incompatible with
the present railroad law, especially
/ the six percent section Of that act
Discrimination Shown.
There have been numerous re-
| adjustments in freight rates during
the past few months where only
! certain commodities or shippers
have been favored and considerable
dissatisfaction or resentment pre-
walls among other shippers general
! ~. This feeling has been rather
strongly developed within the past
few weeks and the Dec. il hearing.
per in the country an opportunity
to be listened TO If he has anything
to suggest.
This central freight territory. es-
pecially has had an extra load sad
/ died upon It in the matter Of
freight rates for the last FIVE years
at least our scale Of class rates
was revised under an investigation
in 1917 known as I. & S. 965 case.
and a new maximum reasonable
class rate scale was named by the
commission. After the decision in
this case, however there was an ex-
ira Is percent added on top Of this
revised scale as a result OF a con-
ference at Washington at which
shippers did not appear.
shippers Should Act.
when carriers in Illinois at
tempted TO apply this plus scale in
that state. they were prohibited by
the Illinois regulatory powers and
at the same time Indiana allowed
IL 10 go on in Indiana This dis
parity brought on the rate fight be
tween Indiana and Illinois resulting
as Il now seems. in the Illinois rates
being raised TO some extent TO meet
Indiana's complaint.
we must not overlook the fact
that in this present proceeding and
as vel! too IN any EFFORT 70 readjust
our central territory rate scale, in
formation must be furnished the
commission bearing upon the fnan-
cial affairs OF the carriers because
the law OF the land ties the hands OF
the commission whether we think
they have full rate-making power or
whether we don't. The railroads are
prepared 10 meet this issue but the
shippers have much more difficult
time in doing so because they are
not sufficiently together as an or
ganization. 1t seems TO me that
right now is the time 20 do some
thing"