Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-09-16
WANT FREIGHT
RATE REDUCED
MiddIesex is Represented at
Conference Between Farm
ers and R. R. Managers

(By Evening News Correspondent
TRENTON, Sept. 16:-As the re-
suit of invitations extended by Alvah
Agee, secretary of the State Board of
Agriculture, representatives of farm
ers associations in various counties
throughout the state conferred with
traffic managers of railroad compa-
MES operating in the state yesterday
afternoon in an effort to have freight
rates on farm products reduced. The
conference was one of open discus
~sion in which both the farmers and
the railroad officials took part.
The main argument of the farmers
consisted Of the fact that all other
commodities have been reduced and
hat the railroad rates have been
lacked" up. John Hankinson. speak,
ing for Mercer and Middlesex coun-
ties, commended that the railroad
companies would be better off with
lower rates and more business than
with present conditions. The farm
ers also held that 1t would be utterly
impossible for them to maintain pro-
duction on the present scale.
Speaking from the railroad stand
point j.. L. Eysmann, traffic manager
of the Pennsylvania railroad system,
said that somebody other than the
railroads were getting the big prices.
He commended that there was no need
for the present price Of vegetables,
considering the price for which the
farmers sell them. He further
brought to the attention of his audi
nee that the railroads of the
try are not on a very sound basis.
Tells Of Big Deficit
"In the case of the Pennsylvania
railroad" said Mr.. Eysmann, ION
March l of this year we carried a
deficit of $50, 900, 900. Through care
full handling of our operations since
that time we have steadily decreased
this noun until today we carry a
deficit of but $4,000. 900"
He also said that the Pennsylvania
railroad has only paid a dividend of
four per cent. He pointed out that
the people who possess stock in the
large railroad companies do not wish
to lose money.
I'VE need the support Of the peo-
pie" said the traffic manager. 1.-THE
trouble with the conditions of the
railroad situation in agricultural sec
ions is due to the undue inducement
of politics"
However, the farmers were prom
Used the support of the railroad COM
panies to their full extent. Mr.. Eys-
mann warned them not to expect any
miracles, but that if it can in any
way be done, the railroad companies
will get together and do their best.
Although the Pennsylvania official
was the only one to speak at length,
others arose and reiterated the
promise made by Mr.. Eysmann. The
railroad men present were: H. c.
Stauffer of the Philadelphia & Read
ing: G.. A. Buck of the same COM
pany; E. M. Snyder, of the Central
Railroad of New Jersey; w. ].
PEBBLES, of the Pennsylvania rail-
road: E. B.. Mitchell, Of the West
Jersey & Seashore, and l.. S. Mickle
Of the American Express Company.
All of these men are traffic officials.
The representatives Of the farmers
present were: w. w. Obey and H.
B. Hancock, of Cumberland county;
Raymond Lipman, of Salem; Ber-
nard Trennem, of Cape May and At
lantic counties; John Hankinson, of
Mercer and Middlesex counties;
ty; p. A. Garretson, of Somerset
county; A. r. Quinby, of Morris
county; r. v. Armstrong, of Sussex
and Hunterdon counties; Earl Dix of
Monmouth county; D. D. Henniger
of Passaic, and H. H. Bamford, traf-
fc specialist of the State Department
of Agriculture.
At the conclusion of the confer
ence Mr.. Agee announced that this
was but one of a series of meetings
at which the farmers would confer
with the railroad companies: At the
suggestion Of Mr.. Lipman a rising
vote Of thanks was given to the rail-
road men present for what they had
promised to do for them.
Although he declined to make any
statement Mr.. Mickle intimated that
at this time 1t Is almost impossible
for the railroads to decrease their
rates. He mentioned II they do it
for the farmers they will have to
accommodate all branches of indus
try. However, he said 1t was likely
that a small reduction may be real
lied.