Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-10
LOWER RATES, FARES,
INDICATED BY |. c. c.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Slope is
expressed by the interstate COM
merce commission in it's annual re-
port today to congress that ga SUBJ
stantially lower" level of railroad
rates and fares will be possible with
an improvement in the volume Of
traffic following the present bust
ness depression and with further
adjustment of operating costs in
harmony with prevailing tenden-
cies."
Freight rates, following wartime
increases and some later readjust-
mentS, have not yet reached an
equilibrium, the commission says, be-
cause the chief factors controlling
them, "the value of service and the
cost of transportation" still are ''in
a state of flux."
The commissions report is for the
year ended last October 81. It dis
closes that total Of $3.50, 100000 has
been ordered paid to the railroads
under the government guarantee
against losses during the first six
months after their return to private
ownership and that there still is due
an estimated 100000 on this ac-
count.
out of GIT carriers entitled to
guarantee payments, the commits
sion says, SAT have filed claims, to-
falling $S1S 100000, but payments of
only $3.50 100000 have been held
justified by the commissions audit.
No statement was made with respect
to the difference between the roads
own summary of their losses during
the six months and the govern
ments findings. The roads which
have not yet filed claims for loss
es, the report adds, are short lines
and the total will be relatively
small"
In it's capacity as supervisor Of
railroad capital issues, the commits
sion issued during the year certifi-
Gates allowing roads to issue stocks
and bonds to a total of $1,715,0 00,0 900,
the report says. The commission
points out, however, that this total
represented for the greatest part re-
funding operations, not involving
new and increased investment.
Discussing railroad earnings, the
commission says the carriers in
come and expenses have reflected
the unsettled industrial conditions
and that despite the reduction Of the
working forces by half million
men, a lowering Of the cost of ma
terials and cuts in employees pay,
the net earnings have not yet reach
ed a rate Of per cent on the value
Of the properties determined for the
United States as a whole. The per
cent net earning rate is that recog-
nized by congress in the transporta-
ton act as a fair return on the in
vested value.
In it's recommendations the COM
mission asks congress to reconsider
section % Of the merchant marine
act authorizing preferential rail
rates on shipments Of commodities
for export in American bottoms, de-
claring that the ultimate effect
may be merely to divert traffic
from certain ports to others with
little or no gain in tonnage for
United States vessels" Opera ton
of this section of the law has been
suspended by agreement between
the shipping board and the commits
sion.
Other recommendations Of the
commission are:
Enactment of a law providing for
the punishment Of any person offer
ing or giving bribe to an employe
of a carrier with intent to influence
| his action or decision with respect
to car service, and providing for the
punishment of the guilty employee
| That the use Of steel cars in the
| passenger service be required and
that the use in passenger trains OF
wooden cars between or in front OF
steel cars be prohibited.
| Amendment of the interstate com
merce act SO as clearly to provide
whether and, if so, how voluntary
| consultations of carriers may be eff
| fected pending ultimate adoption by
the commission of complete plan
| Of ooOcOlj6a tiOn