Arizona republican., 1921-04-27
Railroad. and Commission Merchants


 There be argument against the reduction of railroad rates if there is to be a restoration normal business and industry. But it appears that some those who clamoring for reduction estopped from doing by their practices, and that their clanor is intended only add to confu- in which attention will be drawn away from those practices
 Among those who the most loudly demanding reduced rates eastern commission merchants who urging producers especially of pershable to join in the demand for reduction The current Railway Age' speaking of the dishonest selfish propaganda" Of these commission merchants says that whether not rates too high and should be reduced 1t is easy to show that it is the extortion practiced by these commission merchants and the retail dealers rather than the present freight which responsible for the fact that producers of such commodities are being paid very low prices for them while the cities is being forced to pay high prices for them
 The Railway Age then introduces these instances of extortion:
 "On April Is the average price paid to the pro- ducer for cabbage in Texas was s7o0 per ton. The of transporting it to Chicago s26 30 per ton This includes only the freight rate. cost of icing the refrigerator freight charges The total amount pro- ducer received for producing it. and that the railroad received for hauling it about 1900 miles, was 1.67 cents pound. $33.30 ton. On the date cabbage retaiIed in Chicago for cents a pound or s140.00 ton, $1067O per than the total that the producer received for. producing it. and that railroad received for bringing Where did this $1o67o per ton-which 75 cent of the total retail price-go to? very large part of it went into the pockets the commission who carrying the present propaganda, and the rest went into the pocket of the retailer The toll taken by them four times much the railroad received for hauling the cabbage from Texas to Chicago.
 "on the same the producer in Texas received $42oo ton for white onions. The cost of transpor tation to Chicago $2s.64 and the total received by producer and the railroad was ,71s4 ton or 2 ar1e tiYna xyhJf 0niAp sold at retail in Chicago for 10 cents pound. $200,000 ton, $12S.36 more than the that the producer received for producing them and that the railroad received for bringing them to Chicago Most of this difference into the pockets of commission merchant and the retailer.
 "On the date the producer in Texas paid $500 ton for spinach. The of transporta ton to Chicago $3o.36 per ton maNng a total of ;3536 per ton. TIT cents pro- together received. At the same time the retail price of spinach in Chicago Is cents pound or $3oooe per ton, or s26464 ton than both the produ the railroad received Who got this $2S4.64 per ton, which almost 90 per cent of the retail price? Most of it the very commission merchants who carrying propaganda against the present freight rates.
 It is proper for the Railway Age,' of railway interests make these disclosures how for the purpose of breaking down the campaign for lower rates by exposing the selfishness of class of propagandists. but for the purpose show ing where else there should application relief of both producer and consumer.
 The government perhaps to any thing curb the constituencies profteeriEg commission but expose of these methods such Railway Age" is making should have the effect driving the producers help themselves by ing a keener interest in the cooperative marketing movement and the extension of it to the very door of the consumer. But as we have this has little bearing on the subject the need of reduced freight rates. The present rates paralysis business generally along lines which do not touch the commission mer- chant