The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-05-25
Railroads
.CanAppeal.
Rate Slash
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Co2yr!Sht By The Ia:e.,.sencer)

wash.7Gcca May "a American rat.'
Dads have been G'ven Ar u.tHnatUW pE
.oA Interstate Commerce CorlTlsston-
nav are asked TO decide by May SIsS
w.hsther they will accept without for;it'
order the findings ~ the co:n~tsSio? 'Hr
reduced freight rates or wAetaer I"e!
will resist me decision In the courts.
President Harding admits tha; MS et-
'nrts to persuade the railroad eheeuS'ses ,s'
?. the dinner last Saturday riSht TO &C
e2t the cut voluntarily has not o"rno
.-ust. On TOP OF that st2temea: comes
he announcement OF the interstate
'omnerce Comntsston'S decision reaSm,
d on May 18th. four days before tAe
White House dinner. but not made pug
q until today. The two moves are IN
sequence and are made WITH ths hopS
.hat public opinion Will manifest ttssN
I the next few days and convince tho
-ailroads that their own best interests
"a we'll as those OF the country ne IN
going along with the Interstate tom-
nerce Commission S findings.
Can Be Appealed
The railroads can ct course take the
-ase ali the way 10 the supreme court
z the tinted States because the trans
oortatioa act provides that the railroads
shall have fair return on their prop
rr,y and no testimony has been taNen 20
rrove whether the proposed cUt "ou1d
na5Ie tho railroads TO earn such re-
'lrr.
The whole controversy. which has
osen a thorn N the side OF the Hard,rS
administration from 'Hausurat,nn Gay
,Ncause tho agricultural and snlppins
interests have been prodd'0S constantly
'"r lower rates. has reached q point OF
..orin;tiyc action with n" adUinistra-
',on Mr.. Harding gaze the IMPRESSION
.n the Washington correspondents
week ago that he was Sumn9".nS me
"l;lroad executives because the Inter
tate Commerce Commission couldn't
'orluulats policies bat could act on
'ICtS as presented IN tho regular tarm.
While il IS true that tho present dn'ls'
ON Is the oV;CrCvrh - tGr Interstate
,'or,merce Comm.s$loa's own initiative
IS significant that The com3ri
doesn't share the view as 20 rs !imitt-
lions on matters "S rcic%. IN" COM
missions decision sa!a for 'nStancS
The carriers take thH position that
,ye must be guided solely by those
;AinEs which are definite and certain
n the past With this We cannot agree.
our fucctlon under the law - not that
4 mere computerS and cannot thus be
ettrophied. The duty t. VreSCrtbs rates
;or the future carries with q the oh!i-
cation 20 exercise an informed judSmeNt
upon all rert:Heu; ta"ts, present ana
rast. IN order 20 forecast the future as
pcSt We may
PRECEDENT Quoted.
As II realizing tina, hits - de'"lor-
rDe0t or Us tl4IF'l ''fl~, NslH ''tt
points to its dH"!s!"0 n the grain rat
.ase as a precedent aad Justification as
soI,ows:
"THc duty cast upon Us s "ort'nT.
rs duty and looA% 70 tho tuture. IL
Ioes not constitute guaranty 10 the
carriers ror IS tho obligation cumula-
i've. We are not restricted by past
present statistics ot operation ana earn
nzs These are servireaole only as
nov ''l.u!rate the future. What Is
~. H., larN IL .Hls m.
aXsrcise of cAiS ra'"- -rrakirg power n"
;rsult shall reflect our b"s; Judgment
rs 70 the basis which may reasonably BE-
expected to- the future 10 yield the pre-
-crlbed return.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion aow says that since rates ot pay
ro- employees have been reduced BY
$3.50. coo 600 year the tenten'y IS TO
ward Increased revenues. lowered COSTS
and higher net income for the carriers
rNe commission says. moreover. that -
does not accept tho adjustments made
,v carriers II their constructive year
IS correct or complete. the same neinS
an estimate at 4.>9 par cent return ny"
rhe value OF their property instead ot
ne 81 per cent guaranteed them By the
transportation act.
WIN STABILIZE Conditions.
The pressn, la~ provided that the s.
per cent should be IN effect for two
rears from March I, 1920. The commits
now SdNg tEat attsr COuSlfleT'nS 9ii
.rA facts FAIR return for the period
,f;cr March. l421. will be SIS per cent
The commission Commerts freely on
business conditions as a factor In It's
lec.slcn saying:
Tho period os Ges'a'!on has hn"7 IN
progress more tran fifteen months: do.
graud Is reytv!cg; prices are showing
a ,andsrcr 70 Stabilize u?or 2 l"vcl
-,uch below that OF 1920. hUt above tNat
- nre-war years aud r"rd!t!o~S ot tho
AGRICULTURAL and rraru'7"tiri1g indus
rrtes have sreatiy improved IN the past
few months
We are Of the opinion that general
-a6uct!on In trA rate level 4 SrSs'ar
,ial az the condition OF the carriers VII
2arn,t, will cend r"t "nlr 20 lessen tn"
.ransporta,!on burden Aut also 70 equal
:zs and stabilize tho conditions under
,rhlrh commerce and Industry are -
Id on with consequent 'U'ler assurance
. tho carriers - realizing the ;air re.
urn contemplated 3" the law
The railroads have Z In the'- power
- help the adn!a!scrat.Dr's objective
1o--nalcy-or 20 rH'a-d !t Pres.den.
Harding has tried ~ personal confer
once g. bring the railroads 10 his view.
,o:r: The interstate Commerce tom
mission Uow las ;a:' ne case before the
curt % YU@iir lpiu.pa.