The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-04-12
INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION MOVES
To Cut Rates-LOwer COmmOdi.
ty Tariffs is Thought Plan
Body Will Accept.

Washington, April 9.-Meu hers
of the Interstate C"Emerc, Com
mission will confer anont them
selves tomorrow in an effort to reach
what expert observers declare will
be the most momentous domestic
decision affecting the economic well
fare of the country in recent years.
it was learned tonight.
Their decision on the question of
freight rates will be for a reduction
of some kind, according to predic-
tions of some of these same expert
observers, who have analyzed the
problems confronting the commits
sion after a study of the voluminous
evidence presented during hearings
which began late last year. But a
general reduction is thought i'm
probable.
Decision Expected BY May
The first step toward a decision
will be consideration of a report
which will be laid before the entire
commission by Commissioners Henry
c Bell, John J. Esch, Clyde B.
Aitchison and Ernest /. Lewis, who,
as a committee, have prepared
recommendations to be used as the
basis for further deliberation.
It is authoritaitvely learned that
the conclusions of the commission
probably will be given to the public
by May 1, unless unexpected compli-
cations intervene.
Three courses are open to the
commission, after hearing the plea
of the railroads that reduced Iates
are desirable, but not possible be-
cause Of high operating costs. and
the arguments of shippers that busi-
ness interchange will attain no real
robustness until rates are reduced,
according to students of the situa-
tion.
Three Courses Open to Commission
These courses are:
First-NO reduction OF rates.
SecOnd-A general horizontal re-
ductiOn affecting all rates.
Third-A commodity reduction or
cutting Of rates mainly on the
principal raw materials.
Coal, lumber and other interests
are hopeful that the commission will
choose the third course and some
predict that this will be the result
of the deliberations.
The argument put forth by advo-
Gates of commodity reduction was
that loosening up of the movement
of the principal raw materials by
lowered rates would bring the great
est relief of the chief complainant
the consumer-while reductions %
finished products, necessarily much
smaller because OF their much great
er scope, would not yield the relief
desired.
1t was argued that in a country
of great distances the free move
ment of raw materials was essen
TALLY a fundamental factor and that
the blanket increases in rates allow
ed to the carriers by the commits
sion, and now in effect, had stopped
this movement.
Costs Prohibit Reductions
It was proposed as a sound econo-
mi 10 nnIinu tn tba
turing plants back to the source OF
raw materials" but it Is argued that
a way to do so would have to be
found that would not tear up the
business fabric OF the country.
Railroads officials and lawyers adj
mitted freely that rates are higher
than they ought to be. even saying
that it would be better not only for
the country but for the carriers
themselves If lower rates were in
effect.
But they cited that costs of opera
tion, principally the wage item, made
general reductions impossible. They
conceded that any reduction in these
costs could be passed on to the pub
lie in the form of lowered rates.
Their conclusion, however. was that
a cut was impossibe-at this time.
These schools OF thought also in
cluded representatives Of shippers
who held that no cut would be bene-
ficial unless IT came as a horizontal
slash, applicable to all rates.-Cour-
Mr.. Mark Cunningham, represent
ing the Hopkinsyllle sub-dhtrict OF
the U. s. Veterans Bureau. was i'm
this city last Wednesday and assisted
20 or more ex-service men in getting
their claims for compensation. vocs-
tionai training etc straightened ont.